There is no UK supermarket price war, says Aldi boss
Britain is not in the midst of a supermarket price war despite some suggestions to the contrary, the boss of the UK arm of German discounter Aldi said, warning rivals his business still had "huge potential" for growth.
Source: reuters.com
UK: Brand new 'Little Waitrose' Shop opens in Southwick
Waitrose reported: "Waitrose welcomed customers through the doors of its brand new 'Little Waitrose' shop in Southwick, West Sussex in the formerly vacant Southwick Square building. The 3000 sq ft shop offers over 3,000 products from Waitrose's popular own brand ranges including Waitrose No. 1, Essential Waitrose - a value range which doesn't compromise on quality, taste or animal welfare, and Waitrose Duchy Organic across a wide range of categories including fresh, chilled and baked products; alongside favourite branded products".
Source: johnlewispartnership.media
South Africa's SPAR plans to sell Swiss and UK retail businesses
South Africa's SPAR Group plans to sell its retail businesses in Switzerland and in the United Kingdom after completing a strategic review of its European operations, the retail and wholesale group said. The group, which owns several SPAR country licences of the Dutch SPAR group, has been trimming its international operations in order to "maximize the return on capital allocated". The Swiss business, with 300 stores, contributes 16bln rand ($899mln) to group turnover, while the South West England unit contributes 6bln rand.
Source: reuters.com
IGD: online shines as fastest growing grocery channel but profitability challenges continue
Online is set to remain the fastest growing grocery channel globally through 2029. IGD's latest Online Retail Trends Report reveals that this growth will add $164bln in sales, bringing the channel's total to $646bln by 2029. It is also expected to gain the most market share of all modern grocery channels, increasing by 0.5% to reach 6.3%.
Source: retailtechinnovationhub.com
UK: Asda unlikely to see growth before year-end at earliest, says supermarket boss
Asda is unlikely to see growth before the end of this year at the earliest, the supermarket's chair Allan Leighton has said, as sales continue to fall despite price cuts and more stock on its shelves. Leighton said Asda, which has been struggling since a £6.8bln buyout by Blackburn brothers Mohsin and Zuber Issa and the private equity firm TDR Capital in 2021, was seeing "green shoots" as the pace of decline had eased from the previous quarter. Total sales fell nearly 6% to £5bln in the period after the UK's third largest supermarket invested millions of pounds in keeping down the price of key items and updating its IT systems as part of an £800mln-plus handover from systems run by its former owner Walmart.
Source: theguardian.com
Tesco and leading health charities urge UK Government to mandate health transparency across food industry
In an open letter to the Health and Social Care Secretary, Tesco and its three leading health charity partners are urging the UK Government to make healthier food sales reporting mandatory for all supermarkets and major food businesses.
Source: tescoplc.com
Lizi's launches The Great British Breakfast Report 2025 with Gaby Roslin
Leading granola brand Lizi's has unveiled 'The Great British Breakfast Report' with new brand ambassador Gaby Roslin and food historian Dr Neil Buttery, delving into Brits' breakfast habits over the past 25 years. Although Brits have indulged in various new breakfast options in recent years such as overnight oats (24%) and avocado on toast (21%), 32% of Brits have stuck to more traditional choices, with cereal (49%) the most popular breakfast in Britain.
Source: retailtimes.co.uk
Lidl's Tailwind debuts intra-Asia service 
Tailwind Shipping Lines, the containerline founded during the pandemic by the parent of German retailer Lidl, is expanding its footprint by debuting an intra-Asia service, in the process shifting its Asian hub from Colombo to Port Klang. Starting June 17, the Tiger Express Service (TEX) will cast off from Chattogram in Bangladesh every two weeks and then make its first call at Port Klang in Malaysia. From there, the service will make its next stop in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, before returning to Chattogram via Port Klang and Colombo in Sri Lanka.
Source: splash247.com
US: Market Basket CEO and others suspended during investigation
The long saga of feuding among the owners of the Market Basket chain entered a new phase as the board suspended President and CEO Arthur T. Demoulas and other managers for allegedly planning a work stoppage.
Source: supermarketnews.com
US: Costco tops earnings and revenue estimates as sales jump 8%, shares still dip
Costco posted quarterly earnings and revenue that topped estimates as the warehouse club's sales climbed 8%. On the company's earnings call, CEO Ron Vachris said Costco rushed shipments ahead of tariffs and has rerouted goods from countries with higher tariffs to non-U.S. markets. Costco's net income for the three-month period that ended May 11 rose to $1.90bln, or $4.28 per share, compared with $1.68bln, or $3.78 a year earlier. Revenue rose from $58.52bln in the year-ago period.
Source: cnbc.com
US: Local becomes a more potent produce department magnet
Fresh produce is one of the most "connect" ways that retailers can resonate shoppers, said Jonathan Raduns, founder and partner with Greenville, South Carolina-based Merchandise Food Retail Consulting. Popular local produce includes corn, tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, peppers, and such greens as lettuce and kale, but desirability of some items can vary by regions, he said, noting, for instance, that there is greater demand for okra in the South. "The highest volume items are typically lower cost because of wide adoption and consumption", Raduns said.
Source: supermarketnews.com
Canada: Rabba partners with DoorDash
Toronto's Rabba Fine Foods has partnered with DoorDash. Shoppers can now order the grocer's fresh produce, ready-to-eat meals, bakery goods, dairy products, everyday essentials and alcohol on-demand.
Source: canadiangrocer.com
US: SpartanNash eyes growth of Hispanic stores
SpartanNash is bullish on the growth prospects for its Hispanic stores, the company said in its first-quarter earnings call. SpartanNash said net income for the first quarter fell about 84% to $2.1mln, compared with net income of $13mln in the year-ago first quarter, after operating expenses rose 12.9%. Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was up 2.6%, $77mln, vs. the year-ago first quarter. Sales were up 3.7%, to $2.91bln, driven in part by increased retail volume.
Source: supermarketnews.com