Saudi Arabia: Lulu's 'Australia Week' showcases growing bilateral trade
Running until May 17, Australia Week 2025 showcases more than 960 high-quality Australian products from 129 leading brands. Shoppers can explore a curated selection of premium meats, fresh fruit and vegetables, dairy, frozen items, canned goods, and health-oriented foods.
Source: arabnews.com
Northern Ireland: EUROSPAR Kilkeel doubles in size after multi-million pound refit
EUROSPAR Greencastle Street has doubled in size thanks to a £4.7mln investment from its owners, Henderson Retail. The area's local producers found in-store include Oh, So Lean, John Mulligan Potatoes, fresh fish from The Galley, Riverlodge Eggs, Corn Dolly Bread and Cakes and Shelbourne Bakery.
Source: eurosparni.co.uk
Migros is pooling its logistics in French-speaking Switzerland
Migros reported: "The Migros Cooperatives of Geneva, Neuchâtel-Fribourg, Vaud and Valais are pooling their logistics. The new logistics model is based on a clear structure: a fulfilment centre in Ecublens as well as decentralised hubs in Geneva and Martigny. Ecublens will gradually implement the pooling of all logistics services in French-speaking Switzerland from 1 July 2025 onwards. At the same time, the operations centres of the four French-speaking Migros Cooperatives will be integrated into the organisational structure of Migros Logistique Romande (MLR SA), which is already responsible for the joint refrigerated logistics".
Source: corporate.migros.ch
China: JD.com announces first quarter 2025 results
JD.com, Inc., the "Company" or "JD.com", announced its unaudited financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2025. First quarter 2025 highlights: net revenues were RMB301.1bln (US$141.5bln) for the first quarter of 2025, an increase of 15.8% from the first quarter of 2024. Income from operations was RMB10.5bln (US$1.5bln) for the first quarter of 2025, compared to RMB7.7bln for the first quarter of 2024.
Source: globenewswire.com
Holland: Jumbo adds Edwin Bouwman to its supervisory board
Dutch retailer Jumbo has announced that Edwin Bouwman joined its supervisory board on 1 May 2025. The current term of appointment of Bouwman as commissioner is four years, up to May 2029, Jumbo noted.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Asda partners with Nesta to launch healthier choices trial in 10 stores
Asda has announced a trial of a number of health-led initiatives across 10 stores, as the retailer sets out to reduce barriers to health and encourage customers to make healthier choices. The wide-ranging changes to store will include: a focus on how Rollback - Asda's initiative to cut prices to a lower Asda Price - can positively impact healthier SKUs across snacking, frozen and fresh produce. Trialling better-for-you choices like dried fruits & nuts snacks at checkouts. Incentives to increase fruit and vegetable consumption, including the offer of a free children's snack box if pre-packaged fruit is purchased, as well as produce vouchers. Utilising promotional space with a focus on healthier product lines.
Source: retailtimes.co.uk
Belgium: Renewed Spar Alken to reopen on 22 May
On Thursday, May 22, the Spar Colruyt Group store in Alken will reopen after a thorough renovation and expansion. As a store in the heart of the fruit-growing region, Spar Alken focuses on offering delicious local products, such as strawberries and cherries. The store also offers regional specialties, including Pipo juices, as well as beers and gin from Wilderen Brewery.
Source: press.colruytgroup.com
Lidl Ireland powers ahead with ambitious expansion plans as new €7m Claregalway store gets set to open later this month
Ireland's best value supermarket Lidl will open the doors to its brand-new store in Claregalway in Co Galway on Thursday 22nd May 2025 at 8:00am, taking the retailer's store count to 11 in the county and creating 30 new jobs for the local area.
Source: retailnews.ie
UK: Morrisons names ex-Lidl director as new marketing boss
Morrisons has appointed Lidl's former marketing boss Claire Farrant to head up its marketing department. Farrant will join the supermarket chain in early June as group marketing director and replaces Rachel Eyre, who is leaving the business after more than four years.
Source: retailgazette.co.uk
Lidl supermarket workers in France to strike on Thursdays - SundaysEmployees at the Lidl supermarket chain are set to begin an unlimited strike that could see them walk out up to four days per week, severely disrupting shopping services at stores. Four major unions have come together to back the strike, asking workers to walk out every Thursday - Sunday for the duration of the action, which as of now has no end date. The first day of the strike action is this Thursday (May 15).
Source: connexionfrance.com
US: Online grocery sales jump 15% in April, led by delivery
Online grocery sales continued to stay hot in April. That's according to the latest Brick Meets Click Grocery Shopper Survey sponsored by Mercatus, which found that total sales reached $9.8bln in the month, a 15.2% increase compared to last year and the ninth-consecutive month above $9.5bln. April's sales were roughly on par with March, when sales hit $9.7bln.
Source: chainstoreage.com
Canada: No Frills opens new store in Alberta
No Frills welcomed shoppers in Pincher Creek, Alberta. Located at 819 Main Street, the discount supermarket's new store offers fresh produce, everyday essentials and niche products, as well as club-size items.
Source: canadiangrocer.com
US: Market 32/Price Chopper expanding access to healthy foods and wellness items
Market 32/Price Chopper is teaming with health care fintech company NationsBenefits to make it easier for eligible customers to use their health plan benefits to buy groceries and over-the-counter health-and-wellness items at all 129 store locations in the banners' northeastern six-state footprint. NationsBenefits allows them to use their benefits to shop for fresh produce and wholesome grocery items.
Source: progressivegrocer.com
US: Aldi buys three Big Lots stores as locations reopen nationwide
Grocery retail chain Aldi has purchased a small handful of Big Lots locations less than a year after Big Lots filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and announced plans to close hundreds of stores. Here's which Big Lots locations were purchased by Aldi, according to bankruptcy documents dated May 9: 2354 S Range Ave., Denham Springs, Louisiana; 23351 Eureka Road, Taylor, Michigan; 4919 North St., Ste 101, Nacogdoches, Texas.
Source: eu.usatoday.com
Category update: Grocery sales get boost from Easter
According to Chicago-based market research firm Circana: Fresh produce posted a strong performance in April, with total volume up 4.7% compared to last year. Fresh fruit led the charge with a 6.3% increase, while fresh vegetables rose 1.6%. Top-selling fruits included grapes (up 15.4%), oranges (up 13.4%), and melons (up 8.5%). Among vegetables, potatoes led with an 11% gain.
Source: supermarketnews.com