Stop & Shop to close 32 underperforming stores by year-end

United States: Sprouts Farmers Market accelerates store growth
Sprouts Farmers Market has announced opening dates for several new stores, helping it reach its goal of opening approximately 35 stores by the end of the year. The next Sprouts stores are scheduled to open on the following dates: August 9: 14411 Hawthorne Boulevard, Lawndale, California; 7187 Coastal Boulevard, Brooksville, Florida. August 30: 255 Baltimore Boulevard, Westminster, Maryland. September 6: 111 Links Avenue, Sarasota, Florida; 2201 Virginia Parkway, McKinney, Texas. September 20: 351 Loucks Road, Suite C-1, York, Pennsylvania. September 27: 3575 NM 528, Rio Rancho, New Mexico.
Source: progressivegrocer.com

United States: Consumer Price Index – June 2024
The consumer price index for all urban consumers (CPI-U) fell 0.1% in seasonally adjusted terms, after remaining unchanged in May, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. The index for fruits and vegetables fell 0.5% in June, after remaining unchanged in May.
Source: bls.gov

US: Stop & Shop to close 32 underperforming stores by year-end to position company for growth
Stop & Shop, the U.S. brand of Ahold Delhaize, announced the next steps in its plan to position the company for growth. In addition to continuing to invest in pricing and customer experience as part of its growth strategy in its markets, Stop & Shop will close 32 underperforming stores by the end of the year. Following these closures, Stop & Shop will continue to have a strong presence in its five states with more than 350 stores. Stop & Shop associates at the affected locations will be offered other opportunities within the company.
Source: aholddelhaize.com

Marjolein Frederickx, CFO, new CEO of Lidl BeLux
Lidl has appointed CFO Marjolein Frederickx as CEO for Belgium and Luxembourg. She succeeds Matúš Gála, who is moving to the German discounter’s international headquarters.
Source: retaildetail.eu

Indian retailer DMart posts 17.5% rise in first-quarter profit
Avenue Supermarts, the Indian operator of the DMart retail chain, posted a 17.5 percent rise in its first-quarter net profit. It reported consolidated net profit of 7.74 billion Indian rupees ($92.68 million) for the three months ended June 30, up from 6.59 billion a year earlier.
Source: reuters.com

After 90 years, it’s the end of an era for one of Australia’s oldest family-run grocery stores
Many family businesses are passed down through generations. When that’s not possible, it can mean the end of an era. And that’s exactly what’s happening at Galluzzo’s family-owned grocery store in Sydney. Damian Galluzzo works hard at an iconic local grocery store in Sydney. As he has for more than 30 years, Damian started working at 2am collecting fresh produce from Sydney’s markets. “That’s the secret to our success,” says Damian, 52. “We go to the market six days a week. We pick everything that’s fresh. We look and taste, especially the fruit.”
Source: sbs.com.au

SPAR International and NIQ Announce Partnership
Through this partnership, NIQ will offer its space management services to SPAR approved operators worldwide, with the aim of improving the market position of approved organisations within the international network.
Source: spar-international.com

UK: Tesco launches new initiatives to help children facing hunger this summer
This summer, Tesco will be donating £1 million to FareShare and the Trussell Trust to help meet the most pressing needs. All major stores will have food donation bags (which customers can purchase) making it even easier to donate. Kids eat free in Tesco cafes during the summer holidays: the Kids’ Pick ‘n’ Mix may be the only option available in some cafes, consisting of a sandwich, drink, fruit and choice of 2 snacks. The cafe reserves the right to withdraw or amend the offer.
Source: tescoplc.com

UN: E-commerce not as well established as in the Netherlands
No country in the world has more online shoppers than the Netherlands, according to a new report from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). The e-commerce penetration rate is 84%. At least four out of five internet users in the United Kingdom, Sweden and Denmark also shop online. China ranks fifth and is the first non-European country in the list of countries with the most e-commerce, as reported in UNCTAD’s Digital Economy Report.
Source: ecommercenews.eu

Croatia: Podravka to acquire part of Fortenova’s food and beverage assets
Croatian agribusiness group Podravka is set to acquire several agribusinesses owned by local agribusiness group Fortenova. The two groups have signed an agreement to designate Podravka as a “preferred partner” for the acquisition of its agricultural subsidiary, according to a statement.
Source: just-food.com

Finland: Group S sales in January-June increased by more than one percent compared to the previous year
In January-June, the S Group’s retail sales excluding tax reached EUR 5,218.8 million. Compared to the same period last year, sales increased by 2.9%. In the supermarket sector, sales in the grocery and consumer goods segments in Finland continued to grow faster than those in the rest of the market.
Source: s-ryhma.fi

Carrefour partners with GreenYellow to produce photovoltaic electricity in France
The Carrefour Group announces that it has entered into a partnership with GreenYellow, a leader in decentralized energy transition in France and internationally, for the installation and operation of photovoltaic electricity production equipment in approximately 350 of its hypermarket and supermarket car parks in France.
Source: carrefour.com

Germany: Lidl raises minimum starting wage to €15 per hour
Lidl is increasing its starting minimum wage to €15 per hour, effective September 1, 2024. The increase is 20% higher than the current statutory minimum wage of €12.41 per hour in Germany, the company said.
Source: esmmagazine.com

Israel: With NIS 2 million investment, City Market expands with new branch
City Market, Israel’s largest private supermarket chain, is opening a new 250-square-meter store in the Morashah neighborhood of Modiin and plans to open four more branches soon, investing an additional NIS 17 million.
Source: jpost.com