Global retail update
Delivery deals in Europe
Logistics Company, Deutsche Post DHL won a contract to deliver groceries for Amazon’s fresh service in Germany. Over in the UK, Marks & Spencer is looking into options for a soft trial of food delivery and is exploring a tie-up with online supermarket Ocado.
Increasing the network
Russian retailer Lenta has launched its third supermarket in the city of Novosibirsk, which is the company’s sixth store opening of 2017. Over in Germany, discounter Aldi has announced plans to open a new store in the Rhine-Ruhr shopping centre in Mülheim.
Selex goes vegan
Italy’s third largest retail consortium has introduced a new private label line dedicated to health-conscious consumers. The range has been developed to ‘meet emerging consumer trends’ and goes hand in hand with the restyling of the private label assortment.
Food Lion spends big
The US supermarket banner, owned by Ahold Delhaize, has announced a US$ 110 million investment in its store network as part of its ongoing remodelling initiative. The company wants to make it easier to navigate so customers can get in and out of the store quickly.
Hiring spree
Fast-growing convenience store operator Sheetz is on a major hiring initiative and offers more than 3,400 jobs company wide. Meanwhile, food distributor and grocery store retailer SpartanNash has named former Walmart VP Tom Lee to oversee the company’s supply chain.
Survival strategies
Ailing department store chain Macy’s has put part of its iconic State Street store in Chicago on the selling block. Meanwhile, Key Food Stores, a New York-based cooperative of independent supermarkets, finished its fiscal year with flat comparable-store sales and record earnings amid deflation.
Woolies gains momentum
The country’s biggest supermarket chain takes on rival Coles with a strong quarterly sales growth. The company reports that its food sales across its Australian network are up 5.1% to A$ 9.28 billion in the third quarter. Its New Zealand supermarket chain Countdown increased sales 2.1% as it benefited from rising prices
Aeon thinks small
The Japanese retailer, which is known for its large shopping centres, is preparing to introduce small grocery stores in burgeoning Asian economies such as Cambodia and Vietnam. By opening smaller stores in large numbers, Aeon hopes to boost its name recognition.
Remaining competitive
Sheng Siong, the third largest chain of supermarkets in Singapore, has posted a 4.3% increase in net profit. Revenue increased by 4.1%, fuelled mainly by income from new stores opened in 2016. The company said in a statement that it expects the industry to stay competitive.
Amazon awards Manchester
The online giant and movie enthusiast celebrates its award-winning movie “Manchester by the Sea” by giving every single home in the small Massachusetts town a year’s free subscription to Amazon Prime and a three-pack of Wickedly Prime popcorn.
Cooking revolution ahead
Who needs a fridge magnet for a grocery list when a scanner on your garbage can will remind you what to buy? How about an egg-shaped gadget that plans your weekly meals and calls up videos to give you step-by-step cooking instructions? A new wave of technologies is coming.
Compiled by Chinwe Agbeze