Australia: SPAR celebrates opening of SPAR Supermarket
SPAR Australia celebrates the opening of a locally owned and operated SPAR Supermarket in the Newcastle suburb of Broadmeadow, blending everyday essentials with a unique Korean twist. Over 2,000 items are included in SPAR Australia’s payless programme. This initiative provides customers with competitive prices on essentials like fresh produce, pantry staples, and household goods.
Source: spar-international.com
UK’s Abel & Cole MD: ‘Showing why we’re different is our biggest opportunity’
Abel & Cole has come a long way since its launch in 1988, growing from a fruit and veg box company to a sustainable online grocer with a vast range of products from fresh and chilled, to pantry, bakery and household items like cleaning products. Grocery Gazette sat down with managing director Hannah Shipton to discuss how it plans to lead the way with sustainability, navigate difficult market challenges and why being different is the grocer’s biggest priority in the year ahead.
Source: grocerygazette.co.uk
Asda becomes eighth UK supermarket to add ‘Buy British’ section
Asda has become the eighth UK supermarket to add a ‘Buy British’ section to its online site in a bid to encourage shoppers to purchase more locally grown or sourced produce. The supermarket’s ‘Buy UK’ page includes products from meat, fish and poultry, to fruit and vegetables.
Source: grocerygazette.co.uk
JD Logistics launches Shenzhen-Kuala Lumpur air cargo route to boost cross-border trade
On October 29, JD Logistics (also known as JINGDONG Logistics) officially launched its Shenzhen-Kuala Lumpur international all-cargo route, further enhancing cross-border trade between China and Southeast Asia.
Source: jdcorporateblog.com
UK: Cumbrian retailer increases number of Spars to double figures
Independent Spar retailer M&L Richardson & Sons has opened two new stores in as many weeks, taking its store portfolio to 11 sites. One of the stores has opened in Carlisle’s historic city centre, filling a vacant shop in English Street. Just over the Cumbria border in Northumberland, Richardson’s has undertaken comprehensive changes at Edens Lawn service station in Haltwhistle, which is now a Spar store and Esso forecourt. At Edens Lawn, the Spar store has an improved range of fresh produce and now has an off licence to sell beers, wines and spirits.
Source: talkingretail.com
First store in Malta
ARD Discount opened its first store in Malta, marking the company’s first venture outside of Italy. The 250th store in the brand’s network opened in Mellieha, a picturesque tourist destination on the northern coast of the island. Open daily from 07:00 to 22:00, the 500-square-metre store offers a diverse selection of fresh fruit and vegetables, freshly baked goods, meat, dairy products, and other essential food and non-food items from 40 brands, including private-label lines like Buono and Gusto.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Innovation fund helps launch 5-a-day ready meal
DONE meals was developed with the support of a fund launched by Food and Drink Federation Scotland, in partnership with Interface, and with specialist help from the Scottish Centre for Food Development and Innovation at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh. Paul Mason, Co-founder and Creative Director of DONE, said: “I was delighted when I realised it was possible to get all 5 portions of veg or fruit into a single, delicious meal”. Joanne Burns, FDF Scotland’s Reformulation for Health Manager, said: “Increasing your intake of fruit and vegetables is such a crucial part of a healthy diet and it is essential that food manufacturers strive to increase their content”.
Source: fdfscotland.org.uk
Switzerland: Migros investing CHF 2.5bln in price reductions, improved product ranges and modern stores
Migros reported on Monday: “This year and next, Migros plans to reduce the prices of well over 1000 especially popular everyday products to discount levels nationwide. Today, Monday, more than 60 vegetables and fruits will kick things off. They are now available at a low price and are marked with a yellow sticker in the stores”.
Source: corporate.migros.ch
SPAR Slovenia promotes innovative local products
SPAR Slovenia has launched the 9th edition of their ‘Start it Up, Slovenia’ campaign giving local entrepreneurs the chance to win an exclusive long-term contract with the retailer. This year’s selection features a diverse range of innovative products from the Slovenian countryside, including goat’s milk ice cream, organic bread, fruit strips, a fizzy drink with grape juice, and organic fermented minced garlic.
Source: spar-international.com
Nomad Foods welcomes Parliamentary Committee report on UK’s food system
Nomad Foods has welcomed the House of Lords’ food, diet and obesity committee’s report urging the UK government to implement a comprehensive, integrated, and long-term strategy to overhaul the country’s food system. The report titled Recipe for Health: A Plan to Fix Our Broken Food System highlights the need for a legislative framework to support the proposed reforms.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Amazon announces the launch of Rufus, a new generative AI-powered conversational shopping assistant, in beta across Europe
Amazon reported: “After launching in the UK in September, Rufus is available in beta in Germany, France, Italy and Spain and will be progressively rolling out to customers in the coming weeks”.
Source: aboutamazon.eu
US: UNFI workers in Sarasota, Florida, vote to unionize
About 280 United Natural Foods Inc. warehouse workers in Sarasota, Florida, voted to join a union. Teamsters Local 79 based in Tampa will represent the workers. The Teamsters represent 1.3mln workers in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. The union said it was anxious to secure a contract for the workers. Meanwhile, UNFI, based in Providence, Rhode Island, said it was ready to negotiate.
Source: supermarketnews.com
US: Hundreds of Aldi stores certified by EPA for sustainable refrigerants
German discount grocer Aldi has once again dominated the U.S. supermarket industry in reducing refrigerant emissions, according to the Environmental Protection Agency’s GreenChill Store Certification Program.
Source: supermarketnews.com
US: Target’s Thanksgiving meal is back and $5 less than last year, serving four people for $20
Target Corporation announced it is lowering the price of its Thanksgiving meal. The $20 Thanksgiving meal includes everything consumers need for a traditional Thanksgiving feast that serves four, which can easily be doubled to serve eight: Good & Gather Premium Basted Young Turkey (Frozen) – up to 10 lb. Good & Gather Russet Potatoes – 5 lb. Del Monte Cut Green Beans – 14.5 oz. Campbell’s Cream of Mushroom Soup – 10.5 oz. Ocean Spray Jellied Cranberry Sauce – 14 oz. Stove Top Turkey Stuffing Mix – 6 oz. Heinz Home Style Roasted Turkey Gravy – 12 oz.
Source: prnewswire.com
US: Roundy’s ratifies contract with Wisconsin Teamsters
Roundy’s Supermarket has ratified a new contract with members of the Wisconsin-based Teamsters Local 200. Roundy’s, a Kroger-owned warehouse that supplies 150 stores throughout Wisconsin and Illinois, employs 750 Teamsters at a facility in Oconomowoc.
Source: supermarketnews.com
US: HF Foods announces CEO transition
HF Foods Group Inc. (“HF Foods” or the “Company”), a leading food distributor to Asian restaurants across the United States, announced the appointment of Felix Lin as Interim Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
Source: globenewswire.com