India: Reliance Retail in $1.5bln Gulf, Singapore funds talks, sources say
Reliance Retail is in talks with existing investors, including the sovereign wealth funds of Singapore, Abu Dhabi, and Saudi Arabia, for combined new investments of around $1.5bln, three sources with direct knowledge of the plan said.
Source: reuters.com
UK: Parents look for ways to save as average child's birthday party now costs £279
With Nectar Prices available on over 5,000 products in-store and online across various party-friendly categories, including fresh fruit and vegetables, drinks, confectionery, and frozen items, parents can rest assured that finding the perfect party items doesn't need to break the bank.
Source: about.sainsburys.co.uk
Amazon India's shelf monitoring solution set to expand to new geographies
E-commerce giant Amazon is considering extending its shelf-monitoring solution - originally launched in India - for pilot tests in multiple regions. Betting big on Amazon Fresh, the company introduced the shelf monitoring solution in India last month, a machine learning-powered farm-to-fridge quality assurance system for fresh produce. With this system, Amazon aims to enable its sellers to meet the consumer demands for high-quality fresh fruits and vegetables.
Source: inc42.com
Sustainable Food Monitor: the proportion of sustainable food in total consumer food spending declined slightly in 2022 to 18%
After the pandemic ended in 2022, sales in supermarkets and shops specializing in sustainable food (especially sales of organic and biodynamic foods) have been affected by the shift in demand from retail back to food service. At the same time, the increased spending in these channels has not kept pace with food price inflation of 10% to 11%, while at shops specializing in sustainable food, such as natural food shops, spending has even declined.
Source: wur.nl
Tesco Ireland reports profits of €85.5mln in a first for the company
Tesco's Irish operations recorded a profit after tax for the year to the end of February of €85.5mln, down from €104.95mln the previous year. The supermarket chain paid a dividend of €119.7mln for the period, according to newly filed accounts, up from €60mln during the last accounting cycle. It is the first time that Tesco has broken out its Irish profits from its overall group results, and it is understood that it will continue to do this once a year in the future in an effort to increase transparency.
Source: rte.ie
Outrage at Borough Market as greengrocer claims it was banned from selling its popular chocolate-covered strawberries because they 'do not count as fruit, veg or related produce'
A popular Borough Market greengrocer has revealed it was banned from selling its famed chocolate-covered strawberries after bosses claimed it did not count as fruit or veg. The stall, named Turnips, has been a mainstay at the famed tourist attraction for more than 30 years, with fans traveling from as far as Australia to try its £7.50 pots of large strawberries covered in thick, gooey chocolate sauce.
Source: dailymail.co.uk
Carrefour Polska consolidates its shopping centre business
Since January of this year, Carrefour has signed 36 lease agreements, teamed up with 31 new brands, and extended approximately 140 contracts in Poland, consolidating its position in the shopping center category.
Source: esmmagazine.com
UK: Kent farmer donates entire orchard to London charity
A farmer from Kent has donated an entire orchard's worth of produce to London-based charity The Felix Project, which will be distributing the fruit across the capital's schools and communities that need it most. Peter Hall of HE Hall and Son in Marden, Kent, decided to donate his entire fruit crop to the cause after facing a challenging season last year.
Source: fwi.co.uk
British at a click? More than 21,000 people back buy British online option
More than 21,000 members of the public have added their names to the call for supermarkets to back the nation's farmers by adding 'buy British' tabs to their websites. Outside of their overall sourcing policies, most major supermarkets do not yet have a 'buy British' function across their food ranges, although the Sainsbury's and Waitrose sites have sections for seasonal British produce on their fruit and vegetables page.
Source: nfuonline.com
UK: Retailer John Lewis says turnaround delayed by two years
British retailer, John Lewis Partnership's turnaround will take two years longer than previously planned, it warned as it reported a narrowing in first-half losses. The partnership made a 57.3mln pound ($71.6mln) loss before tax and exceptional items in the six months to July 29. That was a 14% improvement from the same period last year in sales, which rose 2% to 5.8bln pounds.
Source: reuters.com
US: Consumer Price Index - August 2023
The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) rose 0.6% in August on a seasonally adjusted basis after increasing 0.2% in July, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. The fruit and vegetables index declined 0.2% over the month, as did the non-alcoholic beverages index.
Source: bls.gov
US: Dollar General plans to fully automate the South Carolina distribution center
Dollar General has announced automation plans for a distribution center in South Carolina, with plans for a nationwide launch to follow. This effort to automate the delivery of goods to individual stores is part of an overall effort to overcome supply chain issues, reports local news outlet The Post and Courier. The streamlining strategy for the over 19,000 Dollar General locations (including 644 in South Carolina) is starting at its warehouse in Jonesville, located near the Port of Charleston's inland port in Greer.
Source: supermarketnews.com
US: Food Lion Feeds Joins Forces with Customers to Nourish Neighbors
The Food Lion Feeds Apple Bag campaign is back for its 10th year, aiming to help nourish neighbors experiencing hunger and address food insecurity. Food Lion Feeds is partnering with its customers to help provide a minimum of 1mln meals to neighbors facing hunger through its annual Food Lion Feeds Apple Bag campaign.
Source: globenewswire.com
US: Albertsons debuts 'Flash' rapid grocery delivery and pickup
Boise, Idaho-based Albertsons said that it has launched its new Flash grocery service, which enables shoppers to get their delivery and Drive Up & Go curbside pickup orders in as soon as 30 minutes. Flash is now available at more than 2,000 stores, including Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco, Shaw's, Acme, and Tom Thumb locations.
Source: winsightgrocerybusiness.com
Canada: Dollarama raises annual sales forecast as demand for essentials thrives
Dollarama raised its annual sales forecast after topping quarterly sales estimates, as Canadians lapped up the discount retailer's cheaper offerings in response to higher prices of essentials. The company's sales rose to C$1.46bln ($1.08bln) in the second quarter, from C$1.22bln a year earlier, compared with analysts' average estimate of C$1.40bln, according to data from LSEG.
Source: reuters.com
US: Kroger debuts limited edition Private Selection® Harvest Apple products
The Kroger Co. announced the launch of Harvest Apple, a new limited edition Private Selection® line of products spicing up fall with a fresh new twist. Available now for a limited time, products can exclusively be shopped in-store only.
Source: prnewswire.com