Clear for takeoff? Amazon gets green light to test-fly delivery drones in UK
Amazon has been given the green light to test-fly drones beyond a human controller's line of sight in the UK, paving the way for using the machines to deliver packages to homes.
Source: theguardian.com
Woolworths unveils plans for WA's first Customer Fulfilment Centre, set to boost online groceries for Perth residents
Woolworths has revealed plans for its first Customer Fulfilment Centre (CFC) in Western Australia, which will be located in Mirrabooka, Perth North to serve increasing demand for online grocery orders from Perth's growing population.
Source: woolworthsgroup.com.au
Croatia's Studenac gets 40mln euro loan from EBRD
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) said it is disbursing a 40mln ($44mln) euro senior long-term loan to Studenac, the largest food retailer in Croatia by number of stores, for the acquisition of food retail chains and future investments.
Source: seenews.com
Germany: METRO continues to grow in all channels in Q3 2023/24
METRO continued its positive sales trend in the third quarter of 2023/24. Adjusted for currency and portfolio effects, sales increased by 4.4%, in local currency by 3.4%. All sales channels contributed to sales growth, with the delivery business (Food Service Distribution, FSD) and the online marketplace once again posting the strongest growth. Adjusted EBITDA reached €327mln, approximately at the previous year's level (Q3 2022/23: €332mln).
Source: newsroom.metroag.de
UK: Inflation rises as food prices fail to ease for first time since March 2023
UK inflation rose for the first time this year as food prices failed to ease for the first time since March 2023. According to the latest consumer price inflation data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), this figure remained unchanged at 1.5%, after falling for the previous 15 months. The ONS found downward contributions from bread and cereals, fish, vegetables, and mineral waters and soft drinks, with notable products including fresh orange juice, sponge cake, canned tuna, and cheese spread. However, there were upward contributions from milk, cheese and eggs, fruit, and sugar, jam and honey, with notable increases from packs of individual cakes, sliced pre-packed ham, milk, and large chocolate bars.
Source: grocerygazette.co.uk
UK: Union calls for urgent action to protect jobs as Asda 'fights for survival'
The GMB union has called on the owner of Asda to take "urgent action" to protect jobs amid signs the supermarket is "in a fight for survival". Nadine Houghton, national officer for the GMB union, which represents thousands of Asda staff, said the union would write to government ministers to "raise our concerns around job protection and value for consumers".
Source: theguardian.com
UK: Morrisons extends Deliveroo partnership to 500 of its c-stores
Morrisons is extending its partnership with Deliveroo so that customers can order groceries from 500 of its Morrisons Daily convenience stores and have them delivered to their doorstep in under 30 minutes.
Source: talkingretail.com
Sweden: ICA Gruppen's report for the second quarter 2024
ICA Gruppen reported: "Consolidated net sales increased by 5.3% to SEK 39,826mln compared with 2023 (SEK 37,823mln) for the second quarter and operating profit rose to SEK 2,262mln (SEK 2,008mln). The Group's improved earnings were affected by a land exchange transaction in Årsta which provided a capital gain of approximately SEK 500mln. This reduced the Group's loan debt by approximately the same amount".
Source: icagruppen.se
Coles SecondBite Winter Appeal raises more than $1.4mln to help feed Aussies in need
National food rescue charity SecondBite has been given a $1.4mln boost from the Coles SecondBite Winter Appeal to help feed Australians in need.
Source: colesgroup.com.au
UK: Gopuff extends 24 hour grocery delivery service to new areas
Gopuff, the instant grocery delivery company, has launched a new 24/7 service for customers in Cambridge, Salford and the London boroughs of Bow, Holloway and Stratford, following the success of the service in other UK cities.
Source: talkingretail.com
Holland: Plant-based meat substitutes not popular among most flexitarians
A new study conducted by WUR researchers Muriel Verain and Hans Dagevos reveals that plant-based meat substitutes are popular among dedicated flexitarians who consume very little meat. On the other hand, those who eat meat regularly or in considerable amounts are less enthusiastic about meat substitutes.
Source: wur.nl
Getir faces lawsuits over $4mln in unpaid rent in NYC
Turkish-based last-mile delivery service Getir faces multiple lawsuits for unpaid rent after closing up shop earlier this year and exiting the U.S. and European markets, according to a story in the New York Post.
Source: supermarketnews.com
Instacart broadens efforts with Partnership for a Healthier America
The grocery tech company provided an update on its work with Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA). The organizations reported that their joint work has helped connect families with more than 5mln servings of fruits and vegetables.
Source: progressivegrocer.com
US: Sprouts Farmers Market unveils new stores on both coasts
Sprouts Farmers Market, readying several new stores for the back half of 2024, welcomed shoppers to a new location in Brooksville, Florida, on August 9. Next up: A new Sprouts in Westminster, Maryland, slated to be unveiled on August 30, followed by September openings in York, Pennsylvania, McKinney, Texas, Sarasota, Florida, Greenville, South Carolina, Hayward, California, and Rio Rancho, New Mexico.
Source: progressivegrocer.com
Canada: Metro reports lower profits while sales rise 3.5% amid continued discount shift
Metro reported lower profits in the third quarter while sales rose 3.5%. The Montreal-based grocery and drugstore retailer earned $296.2mln in its third quarter, down from $346.7mln in the same quarter last year. Sales in the quarter amounted to $6.65bln, up from $6.43bln in the same quarter last year.
Source: thecanadianpressnews.ca
US: Serve Robotics and Shake Shack roll out autonomous robot delivery via Uber Eats
Serve Robotics Inc. ("Serve"), a leading autonomous sidewalk delivery company, and Shake Shack Inc. ("Shake Shack") announced a partnership to deliver Shake Shack using Serve's autonomous delivery robots via Uber Eats, the delivery platform of Uber Technologies Inc.
Source: prnewswire.com
US: Performance Food Group Company announces agreement to acquire Cheney Bros, Inc.
Performance Food Group Company (PFG) announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement with Cheney Bros., Inc. ("Cheney Brothers"), a leading independent broadline foodservice distributor based in Riviera Beach, Florida and owned by the Cheney family and Clayton Dubilier & Rice ("CD&R"), pursuant to which PFG will acquire Cheney Brothers for $2.1bln in cash. The acquisition will create a stronger presence in the Southeast region and provide additional distribution capacity. In other news, Performance Food Group Company reports fourth-quarter and full-year fiscal 2024 results.
Source: businesswire.com
US: Popular Japanese grocer entering San Francisco's East Bay
Tokyo Central is moving into the Bay Street Emeryville development in the East Bay of San Francisco next year. The Japanese supermarket chain is owned by Pan Pacific Retail Management (PPRM), which is also the parent company of Gelson's Markets, Don Quijote and Marukai.
Source: progressivegrocer.com