The Netherlands Discounters finished 2024 in the top position across the Netherlands The discounters finished 2024 as the top performers on the Dutch grocery industry as a recent study from Hiiper is revealing an industry that has been mostly flat from year to year. According to Hiiper’s Supermarket Quarterly Monitor Q4 2024 showed the ratio of turnover in the last period of 2018 at a 100. That’s similar to last year. However, the quantity of transactions decreased from year to year (to a level of 95) because of the end of sales of tobacco. The average spending per transaction increased about 4% at EUR23.79.

Aldi posted the index scores of 110 during the quarter, while Lidl at 108. They are both having higher spending per client, according to Hiiper. Other formats that focus on price also did good and included Dirk (108), Nettorama (108) and Vomar (103) increasing over similar times last year. Albert Heijn reported an index score of 104 for the fourth quarter, however Jumbo scored only 93.

Source: ESM Magazine

The Shoppers’ Christmas rush gives Sainsbury’s a boost since staff receive an increase of 5% in their pay

A final rush to get Christmas presents secured helped boost the sales of Sainsbury’s during the Christmas season in which the chain provided its employees with a five% increase in their pay. The group stated that its consumers had been “shopping late and purchasing massive quantities of goods in the weeks prior to Christmas” which helped boost food sales by 3.8 percent in the time period between 6 and 4 January. Sales at the Argos chain rose by 1.1 percentage during the same time.

The grocery sales performance was identical to Tesco which, on Thursday posted a 4 percent increase in sales underlying over the festive season – including the country’s two top grocery stores believed to have benefitted from the difficulties faced by less well-known competitors Asda as well as Morrisons.

Sainsbury’s stated that it is dividing the increase of 5% of 118,000 employees in two components – increasing it by a minimum of PS12.45 an hour starting in March, and PS12.60 on August to allow them to “navigate the tense cost climate”.

Source: The Guardian

France: Retailer implements Diebold Nixdorf shrink reduction technology

Groupement Mousquetaires an French retail group which includes brands like Intermarche, Netto, and Bricomarche and is progressing by utilizing Diebold Nixdorf’s Vynamic Smart Vision II Shrink Reduction technology after a successful trial in the Intermarche branch.

“We are thrilled to begin the next step together with Groupement Mousquetaires and prepare the launch after we achieved excellent performance during the trial phase” stated Matt Redwood, vice president, Retail Technology Solutions at Diebold Nixdorf. “Our combination of software, hardware and services globally was developed with retailers in mind, while keeping the store’s staff, their serviceability as well as customer service with the customer experience in mind. It offers a variety of practical outputs to aid retailers in battling shrinkage without causing a negative impact on their customers.”

The AI-powered system helps prevent fraudulent self-service checkouts. It improves efficiency in operations as well as improves customer satisfaction According to Diebold Nixdorf.

Source: Supermarket Perimeter

UK supermarkets are bracing for increased costs as the tax overhaul

U.K. grocery stores Marks & Spencer (M&S) as well as Tesco announced strong sales for the holiday season on Thursday, but warned that they are likely to see rising costs come into 2025 because of taxes and persistent inflation. Both companies are expecting significant pressure on their finances due to an coming increase to the National Insurance rate, a payroll tax that is used to finance social programs.

M&S reported an 5.6 percentage increase in the sales of its third quarter. Tesco is the largest retailer, had the sales rise by more than 4 percent during the same time. However the two retailers are both preparing for the upcoming economic downturn.

Stuart Machin, CEO of Marks & Spencer, emphasized that the firm is not in a state of mind about its future plans with regards to tax burdens that are rising in addition to inflation as well as changes in interest rates as major issues.

Source: USA Herald

US The chain of supermarkets employees are set to enter major contract disputes in 2025.

Tens of thousands grocery employees are preparing for a battle of the contract between 2025 and the major chain stores across the US. The major issues that are at stake to be addressed in these battles are: wage hikes that are in line with the increasing cost of living, improvement to working conditions like ending understaffing, and burnout, protection and growth of healthcare as well as retirement benefits, implementing of health and safety safeguards as well as the protection of workers to combat the threat of the rise of automation.

The first batch of contracts due to expire will be in Safeway (Albertsons) as well as King Soopers (Kroger) in Denver, Colorado.

The source: Wsws

US: Ahold Delhaize USA changes its digital couponing strategy

Ahold Delhaize USA currently has a brand new digital coupon provider. Ahold Delhaize USA, a part of the global grocery retailer Ahold Delhaize, announced on Thursday that they will collaborate with the data and technology firm Inmar Intelligence for digital coupons and replace Neptune Retail Solutions. This new strategy for couponing is expected to result in increased capacity for offers and new types of offer as well as greater efficiency and an enhanced customer experience with better-suited savings according to the retailer in an announcement. The brands of Ahold USA comprise Food Lion, Giant Food, The GIANT Company, Hannaford as well as Stop & Shop.

“Advancing our capabilities in the space of loyalty especially with digital coupons, is crucial as we strive to boost the overall engagement of our customers via digital channels and accelerate omnichannel growth” stated Keith Nicks, chief digital officer at Ahold Delhaize USA.

Source: Supermarket News

US Were we to be seeing other attempts at supermarkets in the future, after the FTC stopped the merger between Kroger and Albertsons?

The FTC’s (FTC) choice to stop the merger between Kroger and Albertsons caused shockwaves throughout the retail sector, bringing attention to the growing attention paid to massive consolidation initiatives. The proposed merger offered improvements in efficiency and competition however, the FTC’s decision caused concern about possible harm to customers, such as decreased competition, higher costs as well as limited choices. In the wake of this policy being in place, consumers remain unsure if other grocery stores attempt similar actions and did the FTC established a precedent that could deter similar efforts?

International Supermarket News looks into the different possibilities, which are both more probable and less so.

Source: International Supermarket News

US: Target has organic products at its disposal

Organic retailing of produce is going up. As sales in many stores are growing, and a rising number of shoppers searching for foods that are healthy and sustainable, the retailers are poised to see more significant gains in their categories, the presenters spoke during the 2024 Organic Produce Summit in Monterey, Calif.

The sales of organic produce at the Minnesota-based Target Corp., for example, have increased by 2 percent per year over the past three years. organic produce and other vegetables make up about 20% of store’s total dollar-based sales of produce as stated by Robby Cruz, vice-president of the produce department. This includes organic bananas that account the largest portion of 33% Target’s overall banana sales according to him.

Source: Supermarket News

Oman & Jordan: Why have Majid Al Futtaim closed its Carrefour stores?

Majid Al-Futtaim last week has confirmed the news that Carrefour will cease operations in Oman and that it will be replaced by HyperMax. HyperMax brand, which will operate across 11 sites. This decision is prompted by the changing dynamics of markets as well as the growing competition in regional markets and shifting customer demands.

The move, following the closing of Carrefour stores in Jordan in November of last year The goal is to cater to local demand, with a focus on fresh food, cost-effective items and more accessibility to customers, Majid Al Futtaim said. HyperMax is a grocery chain that HyperMax food chain is entirely controlled and owned by Dubai. Dubai company.

Source: The National News

Australia The cost-of-living-crisis grows worse as farmers worry about the retaliation of supermarkets

The rising cost of living is still weighing heavily on Australian households, and farmers and vendors accuse big supermarkets of having unfair practices as well as cost-cutting. One year after Labor named to Dr. Craig Emerson to review the Food and Grocery Code of Conduct but significant changes remain in the distant future, and complaints continue to grow.

The leader of The Nationals, David Littleproud criticised the lack of government of a response, pointing out in the ongoing deficiency of the 2023-24 Annual Report of The Independent Reviewer. He also noted that the fear of retribution is an important barrier for retailers that stifle complaints about grocery practices.

“Farmers and their suppliers are still worried about the consequences of a complaint, while families have to pay at the cash register,” Mr. Littleproud stated. “Labor is wasting time and has not made any the necessary changes, even while the price of living crisis gets worse.”

Source: The Bugle