USA: Supervalu mulling possible Save-A-Lot sale – reports
Reuters is reporting that US grocery firm Supervalu is considering an outright sale of its discount Save-A-Lot chain, as opposed to the spin-off mooted in July. Quoting “people familiar with the matter”, the Reuters report noted that Supervalu had received some interest from private equity firms and that it would consider offers for Save-A-Lot once […]
France: Kruidvat opens first store
Kruidvat, one of the Netherlands’ leading health and beauty chains, has opened its first store in France, according to a report in AD. Located in the northern French city of Lille, the new store is described as a pilot move to evaluate the possibility of further expansion into the country. According to AD, Kruidvat CEO […]
Brazil: Dia launches ‘Food Truck’ initiative
Supermarket chain Dia has announced a new marketing initiative in Brazil – launched with the hashtag #pfdodia – based around the concept of ‘food trucks’. Food trucks – vehicles fitted out to produce and sell street food – have become increasingly popular in recent years, especially within major cities in North America. Dia’s new ‘food […]
UK: Lidl plans £1.5 billion expansion
Discount supermarket chain Lidl is putting in place plans to invest £1.5 billion ($2.3 billion) in continuing expansion in the UK over the next three years, according to reports in The Guardian and Handelsblatt. The firm said it would use the funds to open 40-50 new stores – an increase on the previous 30-40 – […]
USA: Fresh & Easy chain to be wound down – reports
According to reports in the Los Angeles Times and Supermarket News, the embattled Fresh & Easy retail chain is to begin closing down its network of stores in the USA. Disclosing in a statement that the chain was undertaking “the process for an organized wind-down”, the company said that it was now looking for a […]
Germany: Lidl launches Vorratsbox to compete with Amazon Pantry
Discount retailer Lidl has unveiled a new ‘box’ delivery service in Germany in a bid to compete with Amazon Pantry, according to reports in the German media. The new Vorratsbox service – which roughly translates as ‘box of supplies’ – allows consumers to fill a box with groceries and have it delivered to a specified […]
Switzerland: Coop to launch new online sales platform
In a move that is aimed at competing with e-commerce services Amazon and Migros’s Galaxus, Swiss supermarket chain Coop is set to launch a new online sales platform in Switzerland next year, according to a report in 20 Minuten. Sources state that Coop, which is working on the new venture in partnership with telecommunications firm […]
Canada: 7-Eleven and Walmart Canada partner for “Grab & Go” pilot
Retail chains 7-Eleven and Walmart Canada are partnering on a pilot e-commerce pilot project in the Toronto area, according to a report in the Canadian Grocer. Under the scheme, consumers placing orders at www.walmart.ca will be able to have their orders delivered for pickup at one of six 24-hour convenience stores operated by 7-Eleven. The […]
USA: 330 Family Dollar stores to be rebranded as Dollar Express – reports
Several hundred Family Dollar stores – divested as part of the chain’s merger with Dollar Tree – are to be revamped under the banner of Dollar Express, according to a report in Supermarket News, quoting a source at investment banking firm Jefferies. According to the news agency’s source, Dollar Tree would continue to support the stores […]
Netherlands: Online ‘supermarket’ Picnic launched
Picnic, an m-commerce grocery delivery platform, has been launched in the Netherlands, according to reports in the Dutch media. The first delivery using the service, which is available exclusively through a mobile app, was made in the town of Amersfoort on the 30th September. During a test phase the company has been offering a range that […]