India: Otipy joins ONDC Network, delivering farm fresh produce within 12 hours of harvest
Otipy, the pioneering agritech start-up has joined the ONDC, to make farm fresh fruits and vegetables available to consumers on the ONDC Network. This integration ensures Otipy's catalog is visible on various apps, making it easy to discover and enabling smooth transactions on the growing Network.
Source: apnnews.com
European parliament revokes Amazon lobbyist passes
Amazon lobbyists have had their access badges for the European parliament withdrawn because of a row over whether the e-commerce giant is allowing itself to be properly scrutinised.
Source: bbc.com
Holland: Jumbo profits continue to slide
Jumbo's profitability is under severe pressure: its profit after tax dropped from 137mln euros in 2020 to 114mln in 2021, 80mln in 2022 and even just 22mln in 2023. That steep drop - by 75% - is the result of sharply rising costs, which the retailer cannot pass on to consumers due to tough price competition. Indeed, in the Netherlands, its market share has also been under pressure for two consecutive years.
Source: retaildetail.eu
South Korea: Gov't will 'continue to supply ugly fruits,' agriculture minister says
Agriculture Minister Song Mi-ryung inspected apples displayed at an Emart branch in Yongsan District, central Seoul, amid soaring fruit prices driven by the previous year's extreme weather conditions. During her visit to the discount mart, Song said that the government will "continue to supply ugly or small fruits that taste good and are as full of nutrients as any fruit products to lessen the burden on the household economy and help the retailers secure stable supply."
Source: koreajoongangdaily.joins.com
Israel: Amir brothers complete Shufersal takeover
Shlomi and Yossi Amir have become the new controlling shareholders of Shufersal Ltd. The Amir brothers officially completed the purchase of a 24.99% stake in Israel's biggest supermarket chain for NIS 1.5bln from a range of institutional investors.
Source: en.globes.co.il
UK supermarket Sainsbury's plans to cut 1,500 roles
British supermarket group Sainsbury's said it plans to cut about 1,500 roles, as it seeks cost savings to invest back into the business. Sainsbury's, Britain's second-largest grocer after Tesco, said the jobs will go at its store support centre, its contact centre operations, in its in-store bakeries and in its general merchandise fulfilment network.
Source: reuters.com
PFH completes NIS 80mln investment in Carrefour Israel
Carrefour opened three new stores in Israel in Tel Aviv, Givatayim and Ramla, bringing the total number of Carrefour stores in Israel to 86. France's PFH Group has completed an NIS 80mln investment in supermarket chain Carrefour Israel. Electra Consumer Products notified the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange that the agreement was signed by PFH Group, which is owned by Simon Pinto and operates in logistics and real estate in France and Israel.
Source: en.globes.co.il
Lidl's Tailwind crowned fastest-growing boxline in the world
While other retail chains have pulled back from chartering in ships since the covid pandemic waned, Tailwind Shipping Lines, owned by the parent of Germany's Lidl supermarket chain, has doubled down, with data from Asia-based box analysts Linerlytica showing the carrier is the fastest growing in the world.
Source: splash247.com
Ahold Delhaize USA's brands join White House Challenge to End Hunger
Grocery retail group Ahold Delhaize USA and its local brands - Food Lion, Giant Food, The Giant Co., Hannaford and Stop & Shop - have revealed new commitments to support nutrition education for children as part of the White House Challenge to End Hunger and Build Healthy Communities. As part of this commitment, Ahold Delhaize USA companies will invest nearly $1mln to reach more than 200,000 children across 18 states and the District of Columbia with nutrition programming in 2024.
Source: progressivegrocer.com
US: Food Lion Feeds and customers come together to nourish neighbors
Food Lion Feeds, with the support of its customers, launched its three-weeklong Food Lion Feeds Orange Bag campaign to help address food insecurity. Food Lion Feeds kickstarted the campaign by helping provide a minimum of 2mln meals to neighbors experiencing hunger through its annual initiative.
Source: globenewswire.com
Beyond Meat plans steep cost cuts as U.S. demand remains weak
Beyond Meat in 2024 will make "a steep reduction in our operating costs", increase prices for some products and "right-size" its production footprint, CEO Ethan Brown told investors in an earnings call. Beyond Meat's priorities are an effort to offset a drop in prices it previously put in place to make its products more appealing for cash-strapped consumers. The company reported revenue of $73.7mln for the fourth quarter ending December 31 - a decrease of 7.8% from the same period last year.
Source: fooddive.com
US: Aldi opens stores in Missouri and Ohio
German discount grocer Aldi continued its rapid pace of new store openings on Thursday, launching one new location in the St. Louis, Missouri, suburb of Maryland Heights and another in the Dayton, Ohio, suburb of Vandalia. The Vandalia location is at 6415 Miller Lane, and the Maryland Heights store is at 12632 Dorsett Road.
Source: supermarketnews.com
Partnership for a Healthier America teams up with baby and toddler food brands and influencers to help create a veggie-forward future for all
Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA), the premier national nonprofit working toward food equity, has launched a campaign focused on ensuring kids get Veggies Early and Often (VEO), partnering with four nutritionists and nutritious food influencers to raise awareness of the initiative. Alongside this campaign partners are championing a bold new commitment: adding 1mln servings of vegetables through veggie-forward products in 2024. The campaign aims to make a real impact on the baby and toddler food industry, ensuring a future filled with nutritious choices and adventurous eaters.
Source: prnewswire.com