Billa invests more than EUR56mln in 2024 to increase its the presence of its stores within Bulgaria Supermarket Chain Billa has made investments of 110 million BGN (EUR56mln) from the beginning from 2024 Bulgaria to expand its presence within this Balkan country. The company, which is part of REWE Group which is owned by REWE Group, been spending around 60 million dollars (EUR31mln) on expansion of stores as well as renovations. It has also spent more than fifty million BGN (EUR25mln) in a new logistics center.

Source: esmmagazine.com

Lidl GB is the most popular growth in the number of shoppers visiting the entire industry, as it celebrates the 30th anniversary of its launch.

Lidl GB published: “As it celebrates 30 years since it opened its first store in GB in the month of April, Lidl has revealed it has the greatest growth of the number of customers it served this year. The supermarket that has the highest growth over the course of a year – an unprecedented feat customers also transferred 50 billion dollars worth of purchases towards the discounter over other grocery stores. For the year ended 28 February 2024, its earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) increased by a whopping PS220.8mln (FY23: PS28.5mln) and revenues grew by 16.9 percentage from PS9.3bln up to close to PS11bln (Lidl this year, from 29 February to 2024). The company saw exceptional sales growth for its fresh products (+22 percentage) and is now the fastest growing supermarket in the fresh fruits, veg and salad markets, while bakery sales increased from 10.8 percent to 16% over the past 10 months making it the fourth to second largest within the sector (Kantar 12 and 52 between 03 Nov 2024). Lidl is expanding rapidly with the opening of 18 stores that will be opened in the coming months, followed by 40 stores in the coming financial years”.

Source: corporate.lidl.co.uk

Carrefour Italia focuses on franchising as well as Italian organic items

Carrefour Italia is currently implementing an approach to recovery that focuses on expanding its franchises and its “Act for Food’ program. The move follows a depressing summer, and an 3.5 percent drop in the first half of sales, which was EUR2.06bln in the third quarter, and sales are also predicted to be low.

Source: esmmagazine.com

UK UK: It’s the most impressive brand-new M&S Plymouth Derriford store

Marks And Spencer published: “Marks & Spencer has launched its new and amazing Plymouth Derriford store. The store is now offering customers an exciting market-style Foodhall filled with a variety of displays with top quality and trusted high-value products that are supplied by M&S Select Farms”.

Other news: The transformed M&S Brixton Road store is reopened for business.

Source: corporate.marksandspencer.com

Australia: Supermarkets can make the plastic issue worse by selling inexpensive pre-packaged food the report shows

Big chains of supermarkets have been fueling the nation’s plastic issue because they charge a lot lesser for food wrapped in plastic according to a report released. It is reported that the Australian Marine Conversation Society (AMCS) and the Boomerang Alliance have conducted an review of supermarkets focusing on five fruits and vegetables items. The report found that customers receive a lower price when they purchase fresh fruits and vegetables wrapped in plastic 73 percent often. The study found that potatoes are priced at 53% more fresh than when packed with plastic. “It will encourage people to buy additional packaging, and also more plastic since they believe that it’s cheaper”, AMCS plastics campaign director Cip Hamilton explained.

Source: abc.net.au

Ireland: SuperValu parent Musgrave Group reports record turnover in FY 2023.

Musgrave Group is now over EUR5bln in revenue per year and its profit before tax reaching approximately EUR104mln in the year 2023 as reported by media news reports. Musgrave Group, who manages its SuperValu as well as the Centra Franchises and reported a 6 percent annual increase in revenues as well as a pre-tax profit of up to EUR128mln which is more than EUR116mln during the year to 2022.

Source: esmmagazine.com

AF Blakemore & Son is on board for DLT as well IoT solution to reduce carbon emissions the UK’s logistics industry for transport.

Digital Catapult announced the outcomes of an initiative it conducted in order to tackle the impact on the environment of abandoned trucks on highways throughout the United States. It tested a novel approach to decarbonize the transport logistic sector. The results showed that it is possible to reduce CO2 emissions by between 15 and 30 percent.

Source: retailtechinnovationhub.com

UK Aims at automating and self-service, in the event that Marks & Spencer renews and extends its services agreement together with Diebold Nixdorf

Marks Spencer (M&S) has extended and broadened the range of services under its agreement together with Diebold Nixdorf for an additional 4 years. This agreement covers support for all of the range of stores and managed services to support self-checkout technologies and self-order machines at the digital cafes. the implementation of services to M&S stores as well as distribution centers along with software-related services.

Source: retailtechinnovationhub.com

Japan Financing for Seven & i founding family buyout is expected to be concluded in December. sources

Funding to fund the planned purchase from Japan’s Seven & i Holdings by the family that founded it will be completed at close of the month. The deal is expected to involve three of Japan’s largest lender, two individuals who have knowledge of the issue confirmed.

Source: reuters.com

SPAR International and Circana global alliance to offer the most relevant data and insight

SPAR International has announced the signing of a major collaboration with Circana an expert advisor regarding the complexity of customer behaviour. The agreement is a significant milestone for the SPAR international group of companies that use information from data to improve its strategy to improve customer experience through digital technology.

Source: spar-international.com

US: Roundy’s settles with Wisconsin the state’s trade department for 1 million dollars

Roundy’s Supermarkets, Inc. has reached an agreement to a deal with Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) worth more than $1 million. The retailer is accused of committing 1202 violations of short-weight packaging as well as 90 violations of package labels. The food items identified by DATCP as having a short weight included prepared food items, meal kit kits for salad prepared sandwiches in store, frozen platters, vegetables and fruits as well as baked goods as well as fish filets as well as other.

Source: supermarketnews.com

Canada The grocery Drugstore and grocery retailer Metro publishes $219.9mln Fourth-quarter profits

Metro CSS0_Metro. reported a fourth-quarter earnings of $219.9mln less than $222.2mln the previous year in the fourth quarter, which added one week. The 12-week period ending September 28, totaled $4.94bln in comparison to $5.07bln during the 13-week time period that ending September 30th, 2023.

Other related news: Metro to start a dozen discount shops in 2025.

Source: canadiangrocer.com

US Co-op’s grocer Chicago Market plans 2025 opening within Uptown

The market owned by members Chicago Market is preparing for the construction phase as it plans to be open by the end of next year the Uptown’s historical Gerber Building which was once housed the CTA’s Wilson station. The store, which is 13,000 square feet, is located located at 4618 N. Broadway is being described as the city’s largest co-operative grocer when it opens.

Source: chicago.suntimes.com

US: Target misses estimates for Q3’s earnings, cuts its guidance

Target’s third quarter revenue in the range of $25.2bln were down nearly 1percent from the same period last year, but it was still below certain expectations of analysts. Operating profits fell 11 percent to $1.2bln and net profits fell 12.1 percent to $854 million year in comparison to the previous year, the company stated.

Source: grocerydive.com