New Zealand: Commission to issue Statement of Issues on proposed Foodstuffs merger
The Commerce Commission has decided to issue a Statement of Issues for the application from Foodstuffs North Island Limited and Foodstuffs South Island Limited seeking clearance to merge. The Statement of Issues will be published on the Commission's case register in due course, and will outline the Commission's potential competition issues with the proposed merger following its initial investigation.
Source: comcom.govt.nz
Austria: SPAR again grew its market share in 2023
SPAR Austria reported a gross retail turnover of EUR9.88bln for the year 2023. SPAR Austria grew faster than the industry average (+8.0% according to NielsenIQ), achieving a market share of 36.8%, which has further expanded its market leadership.
Source: spar-international.com
Buying loose produce could save NZ $36mln a year
Love Food Hate Waste NZ says that New Zealanders throw away over 14,000 tonnes of bananas, potatoes, and apples each year. "Shockingly, fruit and vegetables are in the top three most wasted food items in New Zealand, costing us approximately $36mln every year", says Juno Scott-Kelly, Love Food Hate Waste NZ's marketing and communications manager.
Source: ruralnewsgroup.co.nz
Germany: Lidl launches 'Lidl Kids Team' program as part of its UEFA Euro 2024 campaign
Maciej Magdziarz, managing director of marketing at Lidl Service GmbH & Co. KG said: "We show our customers that we are their official partner in all situations. Whether it's offering the best possible prices for cost-effective grocery shopping, deals on fresh fruit and vegetables, or access to one of the biggest football tournaments in the world - we've got you covered."
Source: esmmagazine.com
UK: Sainsbury's and Tesco apologize for 'inconvenience' to customers after in-store and online 'technical issues'
"Technical issues" that affected Sainsbury's in-store contactless payments and online delivery services have been resolved after causing chaos for shoppers. Tesco also canceled some online orders as both supermarkets said they were experiencing technical problems.
Source: news.sky.com
Switzerland: Valora to optimize supply chain processes with RELEX
Valora, a leading convenience retailer in Switzerland with subsidiaries in Luxembourg and Germany, has selected RELEX Solutions, a provider of unified supply chain and retail planning solutions, for space planning and forecasting and replenishment capabilities to enhance availability, reduce waste, and ultimately improve customer satisfaction. Wysupp, a RELEX partner, is managing the implementation for Valora.
Source: relexsolutions.com
Whole Foods reaffirms plans to 'expand UK footprint' despite impending store closures
Whole Foods Market has insisted it plans to expand its UK footprint despite its decision to close two stores and its Dartford distribution center. The upmarket grocer, which is owned by Amazon, will shut the doors of both its Richmond and Fulham Broadway Whole Market stores while ceasing operations at its Dartford site, reported The Grocer.
Source: grocerygazette.co.uk
One in three French-speaking Belgian franchisers operates at a loss
Aplsia, the professional association of Belgian French-speaking independent food retailers, analyzed the accounts of 313 franchised supermarkets: 112 of them (or 35.8 %) ended the 2022 financial year with a loss, L'Echo reports.
Source: retaildetail.eu
UK: Shoppers were surprised by Gino D'Acampo as they picked up their fruit and veggies
Celebrity chef Gino D'Acampo shocked grocery shoppers who had picked loose fruit and veg over pre-packed items - by grabbing them for a dance. To the tune of pop classic "Single Ladies," a reworked version - titled "Single Veggies" - began blaring over the store intercom as soon as someone chose a loose piece of produce. The quirky clip shows unsuspecting shoppers picked up by "Veggie Cam" as they opted for produce without packaging. The video comes during Food Waste Action Week after research by Love Food Hate Waste found UK households are wasting 4.7mln tonnes of edible food every year.
Source: express.co.uk
EU opens formal investigation into AliExpress
The European Commission is launching an investigation into Alibaba subsidiary AliExpress for selling counterfeit products and not doing enough to comply with the new Digital Services Act.
Source: retaildetail.eu
UK: Aldi supports customers with refreshed meal planner hub 
Aldi has stepped up support for cost-conscious customers with its refreshed meal planner hub. The supermarket's meal planner page will now provide an array of inspiration for breakfast, lunch, and dinner to help make it easier for customers to plan their weekly meals. All the recipes come with a simple list of ingredients that are available at Aldi. With Meat-Free Mondays featuring a Sri Lankan-style curried cauliflower dish and Fakeaway Fridays offering a healthy vegetable korma, there are plenty of options for those looking for affordable meals.
Source: aldipresscentre.co.uk
UK: Sainsbury's accelerates its emission reduction commitments, validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi)
Sainsbury's has revealed its ambitious new targets for decreasing its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. These have been verified by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), the global body that sets requirements for and approves emission reduction targets.
Source: about.sainsburys.co.uk
Self-checkout? Dollar General would really rather you not
Dollar General sees the future. And it's not self-checkout. The retailer is so sure of this it's invested $150mln in labor in order to increase the number of store employees and especially to give a boost to a new opportunity it's testing out: the assisted checkout.
Source: supermarketnews.com
US: Kroger delivers convenience and fresh for springtime travelers
The Kroger Co. is sharing quick and easy spring break travel prep ideas, delivering fresh products, friendly service, and affordable prices directly to customers' destinations. Take it on the road: Veggie Critters Snacks; Rice Krispies Treats® Spring Blossom Bars; Fruit and Veggie Gummy Snacks; Mediterranean Lunchbox.
Source: prnewswire.com
US: Fareway expands in Nebraska
Fareway Stores Inc. is keeping up the momentum with plans for another new store in an adjacent state. A few weeks after announcing an upcoming location in Basehor, Kansas, the Iowa-based grocery shared that it is adding a site in Valley, Nebraska, northwest of Omaha. Located at the southeast corner of N 270th and E. Meigs, the Fareway store in Valley will span about 21,000 square feet and carry the grocer's signature assortment of everyday staples, fresh meat from the butcher counter, fresh produce and locally-sourced items.
Source: progressivegrocer.com