UK: CO-OP is making a major change to its in-store services, offering parcel lockers
Shoppers who rely on Royal Mail to send and receive online orders will be able to use parcel lockers from this summer. It means people will be able to drop off pre-labelled Royal Mail parcels and returns 24/7. Collection will also be available at the lockers soon, but Co-op hasn't yet confirmed a timeline. The lockers provide label printing, meaning customers simply need to pay for postage online and print the label by scanning a QR code at the locker, or request a QR code if they are returning a purchase.
Source: The Sun
Belgium: New Spar south of Waremme
Colruyt Group reported: "The town of Waremme is welcoming a brand-new Spar store on the site of the former Match on rue de Huy, which briefly operated as a Comarché. This modern store promises an experience focused on culinary pleasure, with a marked increase in the range of fresh and healthy produce on offer. Celebratory opening on Thursday, 19 June".
Source: press.colruytgroup.com
UK: Aldi named as cheapest supermarket in the UK, according to Which? research 
The consumer experts' monthly analysis for a basket of 82 essential items revealed that the total price of a shop at the discount retailer came in at £21.23 less than Morrisons, as well as being cheaper than Sainsbury's by £20.11, and less expensive than Tesco by £16.87. Even when using a Clubcard or Nectar Card - Aldi was still the cheapest.
The Which? research said shoppers could have saved almost £2,000 by choosing Aldi over Waitrose over the past year. Supermarket prices are now 3.5% higher than a year ago, up from 3.3% in February after falling from 3.7% in December, according to analysts Kantar. The British Retail Consortium has said it expects food inflation to hit 4% by the second half of the year amid geopolitical tensions and a £7 billion increase in costs from the autumn Budget.
Source: Denbighshire Free Press
Electronic Shelf Labels (ESLs) are rapidly becoming a vital tool for supermarkets worldwide
As retailers strive to improve pricing accuracy, operational efficiency, and the customer shopping experience, ESLs offer a dynamic solution that allows for real-time price updates and seamless shelf management. Supermarket chains such as Carrefour have publicly committed to ESL rollouts, primarily using Pricer's technology. Other retailers, including Tesco, Walmart, and Kroger, have begun exploring or piloting ESL systems, though specific supplier relationships are less frequently disclosed.
While ESL technology adoption varies across regions and companies, the trend toward digital shelf labelling is unmistakable. Retailers seek solutions that not only streamline pricing updates but also enhance the customer experience by providing clear, accurate, and timely information. The ESL market is evolving rapidly, driven by increasing retailer demand for automation, agility, and data integration. Multiple suppliers compete to provide the most effective and scalable solutions, enabling supermarkets worldwide to modernise their operations.
Source: International Supermarket News
Malaysia: Jaya Grocer named Supermarket of the Year - Malaysia at Retail Asia Awards 2025
Malaysia's home-grown supermarket chain, Jaya Grocer, has been named Supermarket of the Year - Malaysia at the Retail Asia Awards 2025, recognising the brand's innovation, technology-driven growth and strong commitment to customer experience. Since its founding in 2007 with a single outlet in Petaling Jaya, Jaya Grocer has grown into one of Malaysia's most popular names in retail, known for its curated offerings and premium shopping experience.
The award highlights Jaya Grocer's strides in transforming grocery shopping through a seamless omnichannel model that bridges the digital and physical worlds. By integrating with GrabMart, the brand offers customers a digitally-enabled, on-demand experience that combines the speed of online access with the reliability of in-store shopping.
Source: Retail Asia
New Zealand: NZ watchdog mulls tightening grocery rules to create fairer playing field
New Zealand's competition regulator is proposing measures to create a fairer playing field between emerging grocery producers and the major supermarkets. In a two-pronged initiative, the Commerce Commission is also concerned that smaller grocery retailers face a disadvantage over their more dominant counterparts when it comes to securing competitive prices from large suppliers.
The Commission presented its findings on June 5th, following a review of the Grocery Supply Code and is reaching out for feedback before it publishes its final report in September. "If the Commission doesn't see meaningful progress in 12 months, it will decide if regulations should be changed," the regulator said in a statement.
Source: Just Food
US: A futuristic attitude for enhancing supply chain operations
Transporting produce efficiently and safely from farm to store is vital for minimizing operating expenses and meeting shopper and retailer quality expectations. "Parties can miss opportunities by relying on outdated methods in an increasingly complex and competitive landscape", said Abe Eshkenazi, chief executive officer for the Chicago-based Association for Supply Chain Management. "The produce supply chain demands resilience, which can only be achieved with the best available tools and a highly skilled workforce that operates within a culture of innovation".
Source: supermarketnews.com
US: Business Community Unites in Call for Increased Antitrust Enforcement Funding
In a powerful show of unity and resolve, a coalition of more than 40 business organizations and associations, led by the National Grocers Association (NGA), sent a letter to Congress making the case for robust funding for the Department of Justice Antitrust Division and the Federal Trade Commission. The letter, addressed to Congressional appropriators, urges immediate investment in the federal agencies responsible for enforcing U.S. antitrust laws and warns of dire economic consequences if Congress fails to act.
Source: nationalgrocers.org
US: ReposiTrak adds 50 new food and beverage suppliers to the queue for the rapidly expanding Food Traceability Network
ReposiTrak reported: "ReposiTrak is proud to add 50 food and beverage suppliers to the queue of companies joining the ReposiTrak Traceability Network® (RTN). Among the 50 new suppliers are many whose customers require traceability for all foods, not only Food Traceability List foods. One is a company known for providing nuts, confections, and nostalgic snacks for more than 80 years".
Source: businesswire.com
US: Abundant options add complexity to produce packaging
Packaging that can protect fruits and vegetables during transport and in stores is vital for sustaining product quality while reducing waste. Yet leveraging the most effective options can be arduous with a plethora of possibilities making decisions increasingly difficult, analysts said. Operators must analyze a growing array of features that cover such areas as functionality, sustainability, and cost, said Leanne Blommaert, manager, food research and development, at NSF, an Ann Arbor, Michigan-based provider of testing, inspection, certification, and advisory services.
Source: supermarketnews.com