US: Walmart's longest-serving director Rob Walton to retire from board
Walmart said that Rob Walton, the longest serving member on its board and eldest son of founder Sam Walton, would retire from his position of the big-box retailer at the end of his term on June 5.
Source: reuters.com
US: Kroger edges out H-E-B as biggest grocer in metro Houston
The biggest grocery chain in metro Houston is no longer Texas-owned, according to a report from Axios. Based on data provided by Chain Store Guide, Axios reports that Kroger beat out San Antonio, Texas-based H-E-B by a fraction of a percentage point in the Houston area in 2023, capturing 22.7% of the market, compared to H-E-B's 22.5%.
Source: supermarketnews.com
US: Chipotle says its avocado-cutting robot is coming soon
Chipotle's solution for cutting avocados may be coming to a store near you as early as this year. Chipotle began testing the Autocado robot last July - essentially a robot that could cut, core, and peel avocados. During the company's first-quarter earnings call, Chipotle CEO Brian Niccol said that the company has "prototypes in" and is "feeling really good about getting those into a restaurant." Chipotle plans to deploy some of the robots at its busier locations as early as this year, he added. Chipotle generated revenue of $2.7bln, about $13.37 earnings per share.
Source: qz.com
US: Seven local grocers deploy Instacart order management solution
The Instacart FoodStorm order management system (OMS), designed to help grocers manage deli, prepared foods and catering processes, is being deployed by seven local grocery retailers: Dave's Fresh Marketplace, the largest local and independent retailer in Rhode Island. Delucchi's Market, a specialty market and delicatessen based in Redwood City, California. FreshTake, a new grocery store concept by the operators of Little Giant Farmers Market in the Atlanta area. The Foodtown and Green Way Market of Cross River chains in the Tri-State area of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. Il Mercato di Che Fico, a new specialty Italian market opening in Menlo Park. Johnny Pomodoro's Fresh Market, a family-owned grocer in Michigan.
Source: chainstoreage.com
Grocery sales will go down over the next five years, but ecommerce will dominate
U.S. grocery sales are projected to slump over the next five years compared to the previous five, and ecommerce purchases will rule, according to the U.S. eGrocery Sales Forecast: 2024-28, developed by Brick Meets Click and sponsored by Mercatus. Total online sales could reach $120bln by the end of 2028 and account for 12.7% of the total grocery sales in the U.S., a 170-basis point increase over 2023.
Source: supermarketnews.com
Partial self-service SPAR Supermarket opens in Norway
The SPAR Supermarket Atrå in Tinn, Norway, opened its doors to the public following investment in a new concept. There is an extensive fresh range including fruit and vegetables and baked goods plus a wide range of food and non-food products.
Source: spar-international.com
Country of origin will have to be shown for all food in shops of Latvia
As of September 1, for food items, price tags will have to indicate the country of origin, according to amendments to the law supported by the Saeima in the third final reading. Until now, it was stipulated that the country of origin should be indicated only for certain groups of foodstuffs such as meat, fresh fruit and vegetables.
Source: eng.lsm.lv
UK: Sainsbury's online deliveries hit by another 'technical issue'
Sainsbury's shoppers have seen online orders fail to arrive on Thursday morning after the supermarket giant was hit by another technical hitch. The UK's second largest supermarket chain blamed a "technical issue" for disruption to its online grocery operation.
Source: standard.co.uk
French supermarket chain Casino says first-quarter sales remain negative
Supermarket chain Casino said its first-quarter sales remained negative but showed a slight improvement after its convenience brands reported virtually stable net sales. On a same-store basis and excluding acquisitions, currency effects and revenue on fuel, sales fell by 3.8% compared with a 4.6% decline in the fourth quarter of 2023. The French company, which reported first-quarter net sales of 2.1bln euros ($2.24bln), earlier in the day said it would lay off up to 3,267 employees in a bid to improve its financial situation as it aims to become France's leading convenience store retailer.
Source: reuters.com
Hungary says it will sue Austrian supermarket chain Spar for defamationHungary's government plans to sue Austrian supermarket chain Spar for defamation, Prime minister Viktor Orban's chief of staff told a press conference. "Proceedings will be opened against Spar, in court, and presumably for defamation", Gergely Gulyas said.
Source: reuters.com
Kiwis urged to embrace the one fruit most of us have never eaten
It's as big and colourful as an orange, shaped like a tomato and can be eaten like an apple - yet few Kiwis have ever tried a crisp and sweet persimmon. And now is definitely the time to do so, as this unique fruit is only available for six short weeks from late April through to early June. "They're becoming more well-known and the local market has really taken off over the last three or four years", explains Persimmon Industry Council Manager Ian Turk. "But there's still a lot of people who haven't tried one. So go and buy one or two… I'm pretty sure it's a taste experience you'll be glad you took the punt and tried!" 5+ A Day Trustee and Principal Scientist and Team Leader at Plant and Food Research, Dr Carolyn Lister, says persimmons contain important nutrients and plant compounds including flavonoids and carotenoids which can positively affect your health.
Source: 5aday.co.nz
Ireland: ALDI unveils its newly renovated Castleisland "Project Fresh" store 
ALDI's Castleisland, Co. Kerry "Project Fresh" store has reopened its doors to customers following an extensive renovation project investment of over €1mln which has seen the store interior completely refurbished.
Source: aldipresscentre.ie
Holland: Bol (Ahold Delhaize) cuts three management positions
Bol, the Ahold Delhaize subsidiary better known under its former name bol.com, is cutting three management positions: the Chief Officers for Marketing&Sustainability, Operations and Technology leave the company.
Source: retaildetail.eu
Sweden: ICA Gruppen's report for the first quarter 2024
ICA Gruppen reported: "Consolidated net sales increased by 7.4% to SEK37,150mln compared with 2023 (SEK34,605mln) for the first quarter and operating profit rose to SEK1,490mln (SEK1,293mln). The Group made a bond issue of SEK2bln".
Source: icagruppen.se
METRO France opens first delivery depot in Savigny-le-Temple near Paris
In Savigny-le-Temple, south of Paris, METRO France has opened its first fully FSD (Food Service Distribution) orientated delivery depot. The depot covers an area of almost 17,000 square metres and has four temperature zones.
Source: newsroom.metroag.de
Hungary: SPAR reports turnover over HUF1tln in 2023SPAR Hungary reported turnover of HUF1tln for 2023, representing an increase of 15.79% over the previous year, with 641 stores operating under the SPAR brand at years-end. During the year, five new stores were opened and a further four were modernised at an investment of around HUF10bln.
Source: spar-international.com