Coop Trading names Anders Kind as new chief executive officer
Coop Trading has announced the appointment of Anders Kind as its new chief executive officer, effective October 2025. Coop Trading is the Nordic private brand purchasing organisation for Coop in Sweden, Denmark, and Norway, as well as SOK in Finland.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Belgium: Renovated Okay Crisnée reopens on 27 June as a sustainable local supermarket
On Friday 27 June, the Okay store in Crisnée will reopen its doors on Chaussée Verte following extensive renovation works. Store manager Sébastien Van Der Straeten: "In the updated freshmart, it's easier to make your selection from our extensive range of fruit and vegetables, dairy products, meat, cold cuts, fish and freshly prepared dishes - all of which are central to what Okay stands for. In addition to the freshmart, we now have extra refrigerated units offering a broad selection of meat, fish and veggie appetisers - perfect for a family aperitif or a get-together with friends".
Source: colruytgroup.com
Amazon announces plans to invest £40bln in the UK
Amazon reported: "Amazon announces plans to invest £40bln in the UK over the next three years (2025-2027). This investment includes building four new fulfilment centres and new delivery stations nationwide, as well as upgrades and expansions to its existing network of over 100 operations buildings across the country".
Source: aboutamazon.co.uk
UK: Consumers shopping little and often as temperatures and prices rise
Kantar reported: "Higher prices didn't stop shoppers making 490mln trips to the supermarket over the latest month, averaging almost 17 per British household. That's the highest we've recorded since March 2020. As the sun tempted more people out, fresh fruit sales were one of the biggest winners. Consumers bought 2,400 packs of strawberries every minute in the last four weeks. People are trading up to more exotic fruits too, with sales of mangoes and blueberries climbing by 27% and 10% each".
Source: kantar.com
Spain: EROSKI closed the first quarter of 2025 with a positive result of €13.2mln
The EROSKI group reported: "The EROSKI group closed the accounts for the first quarter of the current financial year, from 1 February to 30 April 2025, with a turnover along the growth path of recent years. Thus, the business volume reached gross sales amounting to 1,385mln Euros. Gross sales in the food area were the main driving force for this growth, with a 1.5% increase as compared to the same period in 2024, reaching €1,316mln. The positive result of the group rose to 13.2mln Euros, 38% higher than the first quarter of the previous year.
Source: corporativo.eroski.es
Less meat, same taste: Lidl mixes minced beef with plant-based proteins
Lidl is launching "hybrid" meat in Belgium: minced meat that consists of 60% beef and 40% plant-based proteins. The mix aims to provide a sustainable alternative to traditional minced meat, with CO₂ emissions that are up to 40% lower.
Source: retaildetail.eu
Saudi Arabia: Grocery stores banned from selling tobacco, meat, fruit and vegetables
Saudi Arabia has banned the grocery stores (baqalas) from the sale of tobacco, dates, meat, fruit and vegetables. This directive is among the new regulations issued by Minister of Municipalities and Housing Majed Al-Hogail. According to the new regulations, kiosks and grocery stores or mini markets are no longer allowed to sell dates, meat, fruit and vegetables, as well as tobacco products, including regular and electronic cigarettes, and shisha. All these products are allowed to sell in supply stores (super markets) with a condition that the sale of meat requires a separate license.
Source: saudigazette.com.sa
Too Good To Go shares the UK's most wasted BBQ foods this summer
Too Good To Go is shining a light on the Most Wasted BBQ Food Items we end up with as a result. The world's largest marketplace for surplus food has found that on average Brits will waste the following items every year: Over 11mln salad items.
Source: retailtimes.co.uk
Spanish food e-commerce market set to recover in 2025
The Spanish e-commerce market for food and hygiene products is set to recover in 2025, according to the IX Food E-Commerce Observatory, presented by industry association ASEDAS (Asociación Española de Distribuidores, Autoservicios y Supermercados). Fresh products face persistent challenges due to sensory limitations, as customers often prefer to see and touch these items before buying. Despite this, online sales of both fresh and frozen products are showing positive growth.
Source: esmmagazine.com
JINGDONG Property adds first industrial infrastructure in Australia
JINGDONG Property (also known as 'JD Property' or 'JDP'), the modern infrastructure investment and asset management platform of JD.com, has bolstered its regional presence by acquiring a 99,000 square meters distribution center in Brisbane, Australia. The acquisition marks JDP's first project in the country and adds a well-connected, state-of-the-art logistics facility to the company's growing regional network. The cornerstone of JD.com's supply chain ecosystem, JDP currently manages more than 40 supply chain logistics infrastructure projects across key global markets, including Singapore, Vietnam, Indonesia, Japan, the UK, the Netherlands, Germany, the UAE and more.
Source: jdcorporateblog.com
WRAP and Tesco call for urgent action to reduce global food loss and waste
WRAP reported: "The leading retailer Tesco has partnered with global environmental action NGO WRAP to inspire fresh action to tackle global food waste, which currently contributes between 8-10% of climate warming greenhouse gas emissions, and totals more than one billion tonnes every year".
Source: wrap.ngo
European Amazon Boss: 'We are an ally'Amazon is doing a lot of good for the European economy, says Mariangela Marseglia. According to the Vice President of EU Stores, there are over 127,000 European SMEs thriving on Amazon. "Thanks to a company like Amazon, their job is simplified because we allow them to export to foreign countries in a very easy way".
Source: ecommercenews.eu
US: National Grocers Association wraps up Fresh Summit 2025
The National Grocers Association (NGA), a national trade association representing the independent grocery sector, brought together attendees from across the United States in Milwaukee for the NGA Fresh Summit, which took place June 16-18. Over two days of insightful sessions, store tours and networking, indies discussed strategies to boost profitability in the produce, meat, dairy, deli, bakery and foodservice categories.
Source: progressivegrocer.com
US: Amazon closes Fresh grocery store south of Seattle; state filing says 125 workers impacted
"Certain store locations work better than others, and after an assessment of our offering we've decided to close our Amazon Fresh store in Federal Way", Amazon spokesperson Griffin Buch said in a statement to GeekWire. A filing by the Washington state Employment Security Department said the closure would impact 125 workers, with an effective separation date of August 19.
Source: geekwire.com
US: C&S Wholesale Grocers acquires SpartanNash for $1.77bln 
C&S Wholesale Grocers has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire SpartanNash for $1.77bln, the companies announced. The combined company will operate more than 200 grocery stores and nearly 60 complementary distribution centers across the U.S. The agreement is expected to close in late 2025.
Source: supermarketnews.com