Enilive and SPAR Austria expand DESPAR Express forecourt stores
The energy company Enilive Austria and SPAR Austria are intensifying their collaboration. By 2028, approximately 70 new DESPAR Express locations will be operational. The goal is to offer customers a wider selection and better shopping options, including outside of regular opening hours. The food and catering offerings include a particularly large number of original Italian products within the available supermarket range. All SPAR branded products, as well as bread, pastries, fruit, and vegetables, are priced the same as in the supermarket.
Source: spar-international.com
Spanish shoppers boost spending on food, seasonal products in summer, study finds
The Eroski Summer Consumer Habits Study, based on internal data, revealed both an increase in units purchased (up by 10.8%) and in the number of purchases (up by 9.1%) per customer in this period. Eroski's sales volume increased by 5%, compared to the annual average, with parapharmacy items, sunscreen, fruit, ice cream and clothing showing the most significant growth.
Source: esmmagazine.com
UK: Waitrose to open first large-scale supermarket in seven years
Waitrose has announced its plans to open a new 30,000-square-foot supermarket in Brabazon, North Bristol. The new store is expected to be complete by 2027 and is part of the supermarket chain's multi-million-pound investment into expanding its bricks-and-mortar portfolio. Additionally, two smaller-format convenience stores will open their doors in The Arches, Bristol and Southwick, West Sussex.
Source: grocerygazette.co.uk
Spain: El Corte Inglés reports a 'strong' FY 2024-25
El Corte Inglés has reported a 'strong' performance in its 2024-25 financial year. The Spanish department store chain saw like-for-like revenue growth of 4.3% in this period, to €16.7bln. Profit before taxes rose to €682mln, while net income reached €512mln - up by 6.7%, year on year. Sales in the food-and-restaurants division increased by 4.8% during the year, to €3.04bln.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Kingdom of Bahrain: Alhelli Supermarket opens branch in Seef Mall - Muharraq
Seef Properties officially opened the new branch of Alhelli Supermarket at Seef Mall - Muharraq. The store includes wide aisles, self-checkout stations, and an extensive selection of fresh, organic, and locally sourced products, as well as everyday essentials to offer customers high quality and unique service.
Source: zawya.com
UK: Tesco launches solar-powered chilled delivery fleet
Tesco has begun introducing solar-powered refrigeration units to its delivery fleet as part of its efforts to cut carbon emissions across its operations. The UK's largest grocer is incorporating five battery- and solar-powered endurance units from British engineering firm Sunswap to its Peterborough depot fleet.
Source: retailgazette.co.uk
Chinese retailer Suning to sell Carrefour operating units in four chinese cities for 55 US cents
Troubled Chinese retail giant Suning.Com said it would sell its operating subsidiaries of hypermarket chain Carrefour in four cities across China for the symbolic price of CNY4 (55 US cents). The buyer is a consortium formed by several asset managers for this acquisition, Suning announced.
Source: yicaiglobal.com
17.6mln Scottish raspberries heading to Asda shelves this summer with Stewarts of Tayside
Asda reported: "Leading Scottish grower Stewarts of Tayside will double the number of raspberries it supplies to Asda - with a staggering 17.6mln berries heading to the retailer's shelves this summer. The family-run business has worked with Asda for more than 30 years, providing everything from swede to strawberries and potatoes. The recent boost to raspberries, which started with its first supply in 2024 delivering around 400,000 punnets for the retailer, comes as part of a significant growth plan between Stewarts of Tayside and Asda. Since then, the supply has doubled to the retailer with over 880,000 punnets expected to land in as many as 200 stores across the UK this summer".
Source: corporate.asda.com
UK: Morrisons trading update for Q2 2024/25
Morrisons reported: "Morrisons has updated investors on Q2 trading for the 13 weeks ended 27 April 2025: Group like-for-like (LFL) sales up 3.9%. Total sales up 4.2% to £3.9bln. Underlying EBITDA for H1 up 7.2% to £344mln. Further strong growth in convenience, with 42 franchise stores opened in the quarter, bringing the total number of Morrisons Daily stores to over 1,700, an increase of 120 year on year".
Source: morrisons-corporate.com
Auchan Romania voted "Retailer of the Year 2025" and awarded for Romanian Private Label products
In addition to being named Retailer of the Year in the Hypermarket & Supermarket category, a competition introduced this year under the same umbrella, Auchan also won the "Voted Product of the Year - Private Label" award in two categories with products developed in collaboration with local producers: "Fruit and Nut Bars" in the fruit bar range and "Organic Cheese" with the ECO cow cheese range from Auchan's integrated supply chain.
Source: romania-insider.com
US: Instacart and Pinterest to launch new retail media collaboration
Instacart and Pinterest are enhancing brands' Pinterest campaigns by providing high-intent audiences powered by Instacart data. The new collaboration aims to connect Pinterest users with the products they love, in the exact moment they're planning to use them, whether they're meal-prepping for the week, planning a backyard movie night, or redecorating an office.
Source: prnewswire.com
US: Why the produce department's health halo is not enough
The produce department's health halo is a powerful shopper magnet, but that might not be sufficient for maximum purchasing activity. Retailers seeking to stand out in the crowded and increasingly competitive sector must present shoppers with other enticements, and the options are numerous, analysts said. Along with healthy eating, merchandisers should continually emphasize such major category purchase drivers as enjoyment, convenience, and sustainability, said Rick Stein, vice president of fresh foods for Arlington, Virginia-based FMI - The Food Industry Association. That can include offering local and seasonal assortments of value-added selections, and colorful arrays of diverse products, he said.
Source: supermarketnews.com
US: Busch's Touts hyperlocal seasonal produce
Southeast Michigan independent grocer Busch's Fresh Food Market is offering produce sourced hyperlocally during this summer and fall. In 2025, the retailer intends to bring even more area-grown fresh fruits and vegetables into its stores and, ultimately, into the shopping baskets and carts of its customers, with the aim of achieving more than 10% growth in units sold.
Source: progressivegrocer.com
Canada: Empire reports fourth quarter and fiscal 2025 results
Empire Company Limited ("Empire" or the "Company") announced its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended May 3, 2025. For the quarter, the Company recorded net earnings of $173mln ($0.74 per share) compared to $149mln ($0.61 per share) last year. For the quarter, the Company recorded adjusted net earnings of $173mln ($0.74 per share) compared to $154mln ($0.63 per share) last year, an increase of 12.3% (or 17.5% per share).
Source: newswire.ca
US: Hugo's Family Marketplace joins forces with Empower Fresh to bring smarter produce ordering to the heart of the community
Empower Fresh Company reported: "Hugo's Family Marketplace, a trusted name in community grocery shopping for generations, has officially partnered with Empower Fresh to launch smarter, fresher produce ordering in 5 of its 15 stores - marking the start of a rollout designed to support local shoppers, reduce waste, and keep quality front and center".
Source: linkedin.com