Global retail update Unilever expands in Myanmar
The Anglo-Dutch consumer goods giant has announced a joint venture with the Europe & Asia Commercial Company to boost its current operations in Myanmar. The new entity will manufacture, market and distribute home and personal care products.
Nestlé sells in Italy
The Swiss food giant has sold a number of brands in Italy to Germany-based frozen food group Frosta, which is expected to continue the development and promotion of La Valle Degli Orti, Mare Fresco and Surgela.
Amazon stays active
The e-commerce major has lowered its free shipping minimum down to US$ 25 amid its battle with rival Walmart. The company will also open its 13th physical bookstore in Washington and is expected to unveil a new Echo speaker with a screen that will incorporate video calling capabilities.
Challenging Alibaba
JD.com, China’s second largest e-commerce company, backed by Walmart, posted its first quarterly profit since its Nasdaq listing in 2014. Sales increased to US$ 11 billion +++ Singapore start-up Garena has rebranded as Sea after it secured US$ 550 million in funds to step up its battle with online giant Alibaba and to grow globally.
Delivery decisions
Target plans to test a next-day home delivery service in the discounter’s hometown of Minneapolis. The service will pilot this summer. At the same time, Jewel-Osco, a division of Albertsons, will begin rolling out its e-commerce offering, including home delivery.
Supermarket woes
Kroger has announced that it will be cutting prices on thousands of items but also axing its senior discount scheme. Meanwhile, Southeastern Grocers is planning to close 20 stores and to lay off an unspecified number of employees.
Luxury conglomerate
US handbag maker Coach agreed to buy its smaller competitor Kate Spade for US$ 2.4 billion in an attempt to appeal to younger consumers and to create a global, multi-brand luxury company. Coach was also considering the acquisition of shoe maker Jimmy Choo, offered by Germany’s JAB Holding.
Drugstore overhaul in Europe
Germany’s Rewe Group is on a complete realignment course for its ailing Bipa drugstore division in Austria. The banner will see major changes in management, assortment, pricing and distribution. Analytics platform Retailytics takes a closer look at the changes.
Solid performances
Spanish consumer cooperative Consum reported a sales growth of 10.5% to EUR 2.34 billion for 2016, and is expected to grow at more than double the market rate in the coming years. Bottling company Coca-Cola European Partners has also reason to feel good with a Q1 revenue totalling EUR 2.4 billion
Fighting waste
Danish retailer Coop Danmark is introducing the ‘Too Good To Go’ app, which will help reduce food waste in its stores. With the device, customers can purchase items that would otherwise be thrown out, at up to 75% less than the original price.
Kiwi success stories
Auckland-based retail chain Briscoe Group enjoyed positive sales and a record profit growth in the first quarter. New Zealand wine exports to the US have increased by 11% surpassing NZ$ 500 million. The ambitious goal of Kiwi winegrowers is to reach NZ$ 2 billion worth of exports by 2020.
Targeting travellers
Hawthorn Suites is putting a new spin on room service. The US hotel chain is partnering with Peapod and Instacart on a delivery pilot that brings groceries directly to the guests’ hotel room doors. The test takes place in and around the Chicago area.
…and Britain’s cheapest grocer is
German discounter Aldi, which was found to offer lower prices on 31 out of 33 items than UK’s big four supermarkets. The next cheapest was Asda, while the most expensive basket was offered by Waitrose.
Tesco commits to Thailand
The British retail chain, which already operates 1,900 outlets in the country, plans to open 100 more stores in various formats, including hypermarkets, this year. The company also wants to increase the exports of perishable products from Thailand to Britain.
More store launches
Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi is taking its offline efforts to India, its biggest market outside its home country, and will open its first standalone Mi Home Store in Bengaluru. Meanwhile, Apple is getting ready to debut on Singapore’s famous Orchard Road.
Market challenges in Europe
German wholesaler Lekkerland has seen sales grow 4.2% to EUR 13 billion in 2016 and expects that operations will remain steady this year despite a challenging market environment +++ Danish brewer Carlsberg beat expectations with an organic net revenue growth of 4% in the first quarter.
Benefits for shoppers
Austrian retailer Billa, a unit of Germany’s Rewe group, has announced that it is introducing new point of sale services. The retailer will launch a DHL package shop in 700 Billa stores, where customers can collect or send packages and also wants to implement a ‘Cash 2 Go’ service in all 1,050 stores.
Competitive edge in USA, Canada
Florida-based grocery chain Publix has launched its first ever concept store in Gainesville. The unique mix of traditional and specialty products along with a selection of prepared foods will make it a hot spot for food-savvy shoppers, says the retailer. Here are some images.
Ambitious goals
Grocery delivery service start-up Shipt is expanding its partnership with wholesale giant Costco and plans to double its overall market size this year. At the same time, a new report released by Wells Fargo reveals most consumers still are “reluctant to shift food purchases online”.
Survival strategies
Canadian conglomerate Empire has launched a US$ 500-million cost-cutting plan to turn around its struggling Sobey’s grocery business +++ After lower-than-expected Q2 results, Colorado-based Natural Grocers announced that it will build fewer stores this year than initially anticipated.
Tackling opportunities in Latin America
Cornershop, a grocery-delivery app that operates in Chile and Mexico, raised US$ 21 million in a financing round as it starts to expand and potentially get ahead of looming competitors like Instacart. Cornershop works with shoppers to track down products in stores and then deliver them.
CHINWE AGBEZE