Sainsbury's boss warns over retail taxes after 'high impact' NI rise
"[The government] have got to be cautious about the amount of cost coming into the industry", Simon Roberts, the chief executive of the supermarket group, which also owns the catalogue chain Argos and the furniture brand Habitat, said.
Source: theguardian.com
Croatia: Studenac obtains €300mln financing package
Croatian retailer Studenac has secured €300mln in funding to support growth and refinance existing loans. The funds, arranged by Bank Pekao S.A. as the coordinator, have been approved by prominent regional and local financial institutions, Studenac noted.
Source: esmmagazine.com
SPAR Gran Canaria to unify retail operations with RELEX to drive efficiency and growth 
RELEX reported: "SPAR Gran Canaria, a regional Spanish supermarket operator and wholesale distributor, has selected RELEX Solutions, a provider of unified supply chain and retail planning solutions, to transform its retail operations through an integrated approach to demand planning, inventory optimization, and pricing and promotion optimization".
Source: relexsolutions.com
Half-time orange slice, anyone? Lidl GB promotes healthy eating ahead of UEFA Women's Euro 2025
Ahead of the UEFA Women's Euro 2025, Lidl GB is launching a campaign to bring back half-time orange slices. As the official fresh fruit and vegetable partner of UEFA Women's Euro 2025, Lidl is offering 250 grassroots teams across Great Britain the chance to pick up free oranges to enjoy at half-time throughout the Women's Euros tournament.
Source: retailtechinnovationhub.com
UK: M&S steps up store rotation programme with a £300mln investment this financial year
M&S reported: "M&S is stepping up its rotation and renewal programme, with sixteen new, nine extended and twelve renewed stores planned to launch this financial year. The new and renewed stores represent £300mln of investment. All the stores will have the latest signature M&S format, with bright entrances, wider aisles and modern shelf displays to showcase the quality products from Dine In to fresh produce. The new stores include 12 food halls, two full line stores and two outlets with the previously announced brand-new full line stores in Bath Southgate and Bristol Cabot Circus, and new Food halls in Bell Green Sydenham, Abingdon, Cannock and Farnham. M&S continues to identify new locations to further fill its pipeline of new stores to bring customers a better shopping experience with market-style fruit and vegetables, bakeries equipped with barista-style coffee and wider spacious aisles from the beauty counter to the checkout".
Source: corporate.marksandspencer.com
Ireland: Corrandulla vegetable farm expands online service
Corrandulla-based Green Earth Organics is expanding its online grocery delivery service. The organic family-run vegetable farm is now offering over 800 items, with the latest additions including organic breads and a new 'Summer Essentials Grocery Box'. Jenny and Kenneth Keavey started Green Earth Organics in 2004 and it was subsequently certified 100% organic by the Irish Organic Association in 2006.
Source: galwaybayfm.ie
Holland: Retail turnover up by over 2% in May
Statistics Netherlands (CBS) reports that retail turnover was 2.2% higher in May 2025 than in May 2024. Turnover in shops selling food, beverages and tobacco was up by 1.7% in May, year-on-year. Sales volume was 3.2% lower. Turnover in supermarkets was up by 1.4%, and turnover in specialty shops was up by 3.6%.
Source: cbs.nl
Beetroot ketchup to avocado oil mayo: how sauces have gone gourmet
There is a "real buzz around condiments right now", says Jeff Webster, the managing director of Hunter & Gather, which sells sriracha hot sauce and chipotle and lime "100% avocado oil" mayonnaise. He says people are looking for something that brings "big flavour" to their plate. Today the horizons of ketchup lovers are no longer limited to tomatoes. There are beetroot, tamarind and even beer flavour ketchups after Brewdog's recent launch of a variety inspired by its Hazy Jane IPA.
Source: theguardian.com
The amazing facts and figures behind Amazon's 1mln robots
Amazon reported: "Amazon started its robotics journey in 2012 with a single type of robot that could move inventory shelves across warehouse floors. It was part of Amazon's acquisition of Boston-based Kiva systems - which was later renamed Amazon Robotics. 13 years after Amazon introduced its first robot, Amazon now has 1mln robots working across its global network of fulfilment centres, having delivered its millionth robot to a fulfilment centre in Japan in June 2025".
Source: aboutamazon.co.uk
US: Double Up Food Bucks doubles SNAP benefits for fruit, vegetables
Families that use SNAP benefits can get double the food thanks to a statewide program. The Double Up Food Bucks program is a year-round program that provides a dollar-for-dollar match on fruits and vegetables for SNAP recipients. The program matches up to $20 a day. Since it started in 2009, it has grown to 237 participating farmers' markets and grocery stores across Michigan. "It shouldn't be this way, but in the food economy as it is, oftentimes unhealthy food is less expensive than healthy food, and Double Up Food Bucks is one strategy that we use to get around that, so people don't have to choose between quantity and quality when they're feeding their families", said Alex Canepa, a Fair Food Network policy director.
Source: uppermichiganssource.com
US: Wegmans launches Instacart Caper Cart pilot program
Wegmans Food Markets is rolling out Instacart's Caper Carts at its Wegmans Dewitt store in Syracuse, New York. The move marks the first deployment of Caper Carts at Wegmans, as part of an initial in-store pilot program.
Source: supermarketnews.com
US: Uber Eats expands partnerships with beloved local grocers
Uber reported: "Uber Eats is making it even easier for customers to access fresh groceries from their favorite local and regional stores. Uber Eats has recently expanded its grocery delivery service to include new partnerships with the much-loved local brands Big Y and King Kullen in the Northeast, Superlo Foods, Lunds & Byerlys, and Foxtrot in the Midwest and Texas, and Vallarta Supermarkets in California".
Source: businesswire.com
US: UNFI and Haug's sign 3-year contracts with workers in Minnesota
Members of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 663 at UNFI Cub Foods and Haug's Cub Foods have ratified a three-year contract that includes wage increases for all employees, the union announced.
Source: supermarketnews.com