Sep 14, 2023

SPAR Gran Canaria's Anfi store triples its sales area SPAR Gran Canaria reopened its SPAR Supermarket in the Anfi del Mar Shopping Centre, making it one of the island's largest supermarkets. The store features spacious areas for fresh local produce, traditional sections like fruit and vegetables, a bakery, a butchery, and a delicatessen department. Amazon doubles down on grocery offering in the UK with new store and online expansion Amazon reported: "Amazon is offering even more convenient ways to shop for groceries with a new partnership with Iceland and a new Amazon Fresh store in London. The new store in Liverpool Street is open to the public now and follows the opening of a store in Moorgate last month. Amazon Fresh stores provide everything you need, including fresh meat, poultry and fish, bakery, dairy, and fruit and vegetables at competitive prices". Singapore: Lower-income families can redeem more fresh vegetables and eggs at Food from the Heart minimarts Lower-income families are now able to get more fresh produce for free at community minimarts by Food from the Heart under a new initiative by Resorts World Sentosa (RWS). The integrated resort contributed $300,000 to fund the supplies of fresh vegetables and eggs to Food from the Heart's four shop-for-free community minimarts over three years. Northern Ireland: Sales up 17.5% as Lidl posts record year for northern operation Lidl has reported a record £434mln in revenue for its retail operation in the north. The German supermarket chain, which now has 41 stores in Northern Ireland, saw turnover increase by 17.5% in the year to February 2023. The rise was broadly in line with food inflation for the period. More than a fifth of UK shoppers' favorite grocery items at climate breakdown risk More than a fifth of UK shoppers' favorite grocery items are at risk from climate breakdown, a new report has found. Consumers could also face shortages of bananas, grapes, avocados, cashews, cocoa, peas, canned tuna, and tea in the coming years, as the countries they come from are hit by changing weather patterns because of CO2 emissions, the charity Christian Aid has said. Of the 25 biggest food exporters to the UK, eight - Brazil, South Africa, India, Vietnam, Peru, Colombia, Ivory Coast, and Kenya - faced high climate vulnerability, according to research by the charity. It found 22% of the items in a typical British grocery shop were at risk. UK: Channel 4 goes bananas for Buyers Walk Channel 4 came to the Fruit & Vegetable Market to shoot a segment for Aldi's Next Big Thing. Danny of P&I Fruits explained the differences between bananas of different grades and how bananas that are slightly over-mature may not sell because consumers buy with their eyes but will quite possibly have a better flavor profile when it is for immediate use. New Zealand: Inflationary pressures persist, but promising signs for seasonal fruit and veg prices Foodstuffs' data shows prices on some seasonal items were significantly cheaper than in August 2022, including avocados (down 25%), green kiwifruit (down 14%), and lamb shoulder chops (down 11%). Foodstuffs NZ Managing Director Chris Quin: "With the longer daylight hours and El Niño moving into position, growing conditions are expected to improve around the country. Cauliflowers are great buying, and asparagus will soon be hitting the shelves". Canada: UFCW Local 832 in Manitoba authorizes strike against Loblaw Winnipeg-based United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 832 said that its members working at Loblaw Real Canadian Superstore, No Frills, and Extra Foods grocery stores in Manitoba have voted for a strike mandate. A.P. Moller - Maersk teams with Fabric to implement an AI-driven automated fulfillment center for E-commerce A.P. Moller - Maersk (Maersk) and Fabric are introducing a new 38,000-square-foot automated fulfillment center in Dallas, Texas, powered by Fabric's advanced robotic and software technology. The new facility features an AI-driven, automated e-commerce fulfillment solution in an urban environment that maximizes warehouse productivity while minimizing real estate footprint requirements. A conversation with JJ Fleeman, newly appointed CEO of Ahold Delhaize USA Ahold Delhaize reported: "Last April, JJ Fleeman was appointed CEO of Ahold Delhaize USA. We took some time for a Q&A with JJ to learn more about his professional journey, leadership philosophy, and the strategic direction he envisions for the company". US: Uber Eats joins forces with The Save Mart Companies for on-demand grocery delivery Uber Technologies, Inc. announced its newest grocery partnership with Modesto, California-based retailer The Save Mart Companies to bring Save Mart, Lucky, and FoodMaxx locations to the Uber Eats app for on-demand and scheduled delivery. US: GrubMarket acquires Mendez International to expand to Hunts Point in New York GrubMarket announced that it has completed the acquisition of Hunts Point, New York-based Mendez International, a multi-generation family-owned wholesale distribution business based in New York's iconic Hunts Point Produce Market. Mendez International is a leading provider of high-quality tropical fruits, including plantains, bananas, avocados, limes, mangos, and taro, sourced from its extensive network of producers across Costa Rica, Ecuador, the Dominican Republic, and Jamaica. With an unwavering commitment to quality, service, and customer satisfaction, Mendez International has become a go-to source of fresh tropical produce for supermarkets and grocery stores across the Tri-State area. US: Giant Food to shutter 2 fulfillment centers as it re-thinks delivery Giant Food said it is shutting down two e-commerce fulfillment centers as it prepares to launch a new delivery model using in-store employees. The regional supermarket chain, an Ahold Delhaize banner, said its fulfillment center in Manassas, Virginia, will remain open while centers in Hanover, Maryland, and Millford, Delaware, will shutter. US: Mass merchandisers trounce supermarkets in online sales in August The US online grocery market was up 8.7% year over year in August, with reported sales of $9.3bln, according to the latest Brick Meets Click/Mercatus Grocery Shopping Survey.