Holland: Ahold Delhaize picks former Rabobank executive as new Chairman
Ahold Delhaize has nominated Wiebe Draijer as the new Chairman of the Supervisory Board. The former CEO of Rabobank is expected to bring "new perspectives". The appointment will be submitted to an Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders on August 8. Draijer will succeed Peter Agnefjäll, who has served as Chairman of the Supervisory Board since January 2021 and has been a member of the supervisory body since April 2019. Agnefjäll will step down on October 1, 2025.
Source: retaildetail.eu
UK's Ocado to build robotic warehouse for Spanish partner Bon Preu
British online supermarket and technology firm Ocado has expanded its partnership with Spanish supermarket group Bon Preu with plans to build a robotic warehouse near Barcelona, it said.
Source: reuters.com
India: Zepto quadruples fresh produce supply chain, touches 22.1 lakh daily units
Zepto has significantly expanded its fresh produce supply chain, quadrupling its daily volumes through direct sourcing from thousands of farmers. The company utilizes over 70 collection centers for rapid grading and dispatch, minimizing spoilage. Zepto's in-house platform, Bloom, provides farmers with real-time market data and structured partnerships, fostering a demand-driven ecosystem.
Source: retail.economictimes.indiatimes.com
Germany: METRO updates climate targets
METRO reported: "METRO has updated its group-wide climate targets and adapted them to the requirements of the Paris Climate Agreement and thus to the new standards of the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). The company is thus underlining its commitment to sustainable business practices and scientifically based emissions reductions".
Source: newsroom.metroag.de
Starship Technologies expands foodora tie up in Sweden as more households get robot delivery service
Earlier this year, Starship Technologies, a specialist in autonomous delivery services, announced a partnership with foodora, a Swedish quick commerce platform. And now the service in Stockholm has expanded. A further 13,000 households can now get robot delivery via foodora Market Solna, with more people in the area set to be added soon.
Source: retailtechinnovationhub.com
UK: More than 1,000 jobs at risk as Poundland plans 68 store closures
Budget chain Poundland has said it will be closing 68 stores as part of a turnaround plan to revive its fortunes, putting more than 1,000 jobs at risk. A distribution centre at Darton, South Yorkshire and its national distribution centre at Bilston in the West Midlands have also been earmarked for closure.
Source: bbc.com
UK: Sainsbury's launches generative AI-powered retail media platform
Sainsbury's has unveiled Nectar 360 Pollen, a new retail media initiative which will harness generative AI to grow brand and consumer connections. The supermarket chain believes that by using generative AI, Pollen will be able to help small brands and marketing agencies "optimise their campaign creative in the moment".
Source: grocerygazette.co.uk
New Zealand: Rising costs for tomatoes due to import bans
The Foodstuffs grocery co-ops stated that global prices for dairy and meat continue to drive food price inflation in New Zealand, while prices for tomatoes are also increasing due to the current ban on tomato imports from Australia. Foodstuffs saw a slight rise in the produce category, up 1.5% overall in May (YOY), influenced by increases of 30% for fresh tomatoes and 18% for both cucumbers and kiwifruit. "Tomatoes are up due to seasonal supply and MPI's ban on Australian imports since brown rugose virus was detected there last year. That's to protect our domestic growers, but it does mean supply will be lower until there's more sunlight and warmer temperatures here", Foodstuffs NZ Managing Director Chris Quin added.
In other news: PAK'nSAVE and New World among New Zealand's most reputable brands
Source: supermarketnews.co.nz
UK: Tesco extends Aldi Price Match scheme
Tesco is adding more than 80 products to its Aldi Price Match scheme as part of its drive to win back shoppers from the discounters. Several of the supermarket's own-label products have been discounted to match Aldi's prices, including Houmous, iceberg lettuce, baby tomatoes, and onions.
Source: kamcity.com
Botswana accountancy authority launches probe into PwC following Choppies audit row
The Botswana Accountancy Oversight Authority (BAOA) has launched an independent investigation into PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Botswana's conduct in the 2018 audit of Choppies Enterprises, the JSE-listed supermarket chain.
Source: businessreport.co.za
Sweden: Greenfood discusses food and public health in Washington
Greenfood reported: "At this year's SACC Executive Forum in Washington, Picadeli and Greenfood CEO David von Laskowski participated in a fireside chat with Asmeret Berhe-Lumax from One Love Community Fridge. The conversation focused on a shared mission: making healthy food both accessible and affordable for everyone. Today, Picadeli is Europe's leading platform for healthy fast food, with over 2,100 salad bars across Europe and nearly 200 in the U.S."
Source: greenfood.se
US: New Simbe study flags urgent need for intelligent retailers to digitise stores using AI and automation
Retailers are hemorrhaging $162.7bln in lost margin each year due to in-store inefficiencies - a 27% increase from 2024 - and pressure is rising, according to a new study from Coresight Research and Simbe.
Source: retailtechinnovationhub.com
US: Walmart and Soda Health team on AI powered personalised nutrition and wellness insights
Walmart and Soda Health have announced a collaboration to launch the Walmart Everyday Health Signals programme to select Medicare Advantage and Medicaid members. The initiative helps participating flex card members by providing personalised nutrition and guidance based on retail shopping insights and analysis. This includes key nutritional information for purchases like fruits and vegetables and identifying products to help reach wellness goals, along with customised healthy recipes and shopping lists.
Source: retailtechinnovationhub.com
US: BJ's to open 1st Club in 13 years in home state
BJ's Wholesale Club, which is on course to open up to 30 new sites over the next two years, is moving forward on that goal with the unveiling of a new club in Springfield, Massachusetts. Set to welcome members later in 2025, the club at 1655 Boston Road will be the Marlborough, Massachusetts-based company's first new location in its home state in 13 years. The new club will feature a variety of groceries and everyday essentials, including fresh produce, full-service deli offerings and fresh bakery items.
Source: progressivegrocer.com
Amazon's corporate workforce may shrink as AI takes over routine tasks
Rollout of generative AI and agents will reduce Amazon's total corporate workforce in the next few years, Andy Jassy, CEO of the online retailer said in a note to employees.
Source: reuters.com
Walmart rival is opening four new stores across US after 'thousands of requests'
Wegmans is preparing to open doors in Maryland on June 25 and in Connecticut - its first ever - on July 23. But the expansion doesn't stop there. The grocery chain also confirmed plans for 2026 locations in North Carolina and, at long last, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - a city where fans have been begging for decades.
Source: dailymail.co.uk