New Zealand: Traditional 'handshake' supply agreements not good enough for $25bln grocery sector
Stamping out old-style 'handshake' supply agreements from New Zealand's $25bln grocery sector will help level the playing field and address a historical power imbalance and pressure tactics between the major retailers and the many thousands of businesses who supply them with produce and goods.
Source: comcom.govt.nz
Sweden: Lund-based foodtech Saveggy raises €1.76mln to extends the shelf life of fresh fruits and vegetables
Saveggy, a Swedish foodtech company, announced it raised a €1.76mln round from impact investor Unconventional Ventures, together with LRF Ventures, Almi Invest GreenTech and industry angels. Founded in 2020, Saveggy has developed an edible coating that extends the shelf life of fresh fruits and vegetables. Throughout the supply chain, they tackle the 45% of fruit and vegetables currently being wasted globally, among the main causes of climate change.
Source: eu-startups.com
UK: HelloFresh celebrates the opening of its largest European distribution center in Derby
HelloFresh - the UK's leading recipe box company and food solutions group - celebrated the opening of its latest flagship automated production facility in Derby. HelloFresh UK CEO Adam Park said: "We are delighted to open our largest and most advanced European distribution center - The Windmill - here in Derby."
Source: bbpmedia.co.uk
Italy seizes $69mln from Carrefour unit over alleged tax fraud
Italian prosecutors seized 64.7mln euros ($68.93mln) from an Italian unit of French supermarket group Carrefour in connection to a probe on VAT fraud and labor exploitation, legal documents seen by Reuters showed. GS spa, a chain of supermarkets owned by Carrefour with over 1,500 shops in Italy, and four of its directors, are under investigation for evading 64.72mln euros in VAT from 2018 to 2022, according to a decree issued by Milan prosecutors.
Source: reuters.com
SPAR Slovenia further invested in retail network
After ten months of construction work, Slovenj Gradec welcomed a new SPAR Supermarket, the second to open in the town. In-store customers can find an extensive range of grocery and non-grocery items. This includes a great fresh offer of fruit and vegetables. SPAR Slovenia has operated a store in Novo mesto, in Žabja vas, for 21 years. In March, the store reopened after two months of extensive renovations. There is a fruit and vegetable department featuring local products.
Source: spar-international.com
UAE: Spinneys Supermarket shareholder to sell 25% stake in Dubai IPO
The family behind high-end supermarket chain Spinneys 1961 Holding plc plans to sell a 25% stake in the company on the Dubai stock exchange in an initial public offering. Al Seer Group LLC will sell 900mln shares in Spinneys, according to a statement.
Source: bnnbloomberg.ca
Germany: REWE opens its first 100% plant-based supermarket in Berlin
German retailer REWE has opened its first purely plant-based supermarket in Berlin, offering more than 2,700 vegan products. The store is the first vegan outlet for REWE Group, which operates more than 3,800 stores offering everything from organic vegetables to cheese and meat. The vegan store, located on the Warschauer Brücke in the Friedrichshain district, spans 212 square meters of sales area.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Leader Price closes last Belgian stores
Intermarché has acquired the last three Belgian shops of discount chain Leader Price. The three stores are reopening next month, allowing Intermarché to continue its Belgian advance.
Source: retaildetail.eu
Spain: Eroski overcomes difficulties and targets growth through franchising
Spanish grocery cooperative Eroski has overcome past difficulties and is now positioned for renewed growth, CEO Rosa Carabel told daily El Pais. The company also managed to reduce debt from €3.75bln in 2010 to €672mln in 2023, following a refinancing agreement in 2015 with banks and last year's bond issuance.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Just Eat Takeaway.com to end operations in New Zealand
Just Eat Takeaway.com has made the difficult decision to discontinue all operations in New Zealand in the coming weeks. This reflects the business' commitment to drive efficiencies and focus on building strong and sustainably profitable positions. Menulog in New Zealand represents a small part of the Just Eat Takeaway.com business, and its size is insufficient to maintain a healthy business in this market.
Source: justeattakeaway.com
Sweden: Coop focuses on season for latest round of price cuts
Coop Sweden has announced a new round of price cuts on food items across all Stora Coop and Coop outlets for the four weeks from April 15 to May 12, 2024. Coop Sweden's latest round of price cuts will include those on burgers, chicken in various shapes, ribs, and veggie burgers, among others. This also includes biscuits, its own-brand Chocolate Crispies, and a range of frozen vegetables, including avocados.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Eataly reports 9% revenue growth in 2023
High-end Italian food retailer Eataly has reported consolidated revenue of €656mln in its 2023 financial year, registering an increase of 9% (€54mln) compared to 2022. The North American market continues to be a powerhouse for Eataly, accounting for over 60% of its total revenue and experiencing 9.2% growth in 2023.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Brazil's supermarkets break through R$1trn revenue barrier
Brazilian supermarkets broke the barrier of R$1trn (€184bln) in revenue last year, corresponding to 9.2% of GDP, according to the Brazilian Supermarket Association (Abras). The top five positions remained unchanged, with Carrefour emerging as the overall leader for the eighth year, generating R$115.5bln (€21.2bln) in sales (+6.9%).
Source: esmmagazine.com
US: Wawa announces date of first North Carolina store opening in May 2024 and update on future plans
Wawa proudly announced the date of its first official store opening in North Carolina and shared additional details on stores under construction in the state. Wawa's first store in North Carolina will be located at 1900 Croatan Highway, Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948, with a grand opening date of Thursday, May 16 (8 a.m. doors open; 10 a.m. ribbon-cutting ceremony).
Source: globenewswire.com
US: SpartanNash acquires three-store chain Metcalfe's Market
Food distributor and grocery retailer SpartanNash has acquired Metcalfe's Market, a three-store grocery chain in Wisconsin. The acquisition will expand SpartanNash's footprint in Wisconsin to seven stores. The transaction is expected to be completed in spring 2024, subject to customary closing conditions. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Source: supermarketnews.com