United States: United Natural Foods Appoints Erin Horvath as Director of Supply Chain Transformation
United Natural Foods, Inc. (the “Company” or “UNFI”) announced that Erin Horvath has been appointed to the position of Supply Chain Transformation Manager (CSCTO), a new role that will collaborate across functions to help shape UNFI’s transformation agenda and future capabilities, drive shareholder value creation, and create an enhanced customer and supplier experience. She will start on October 17, 2022 and will report to Sandy Douglas, CEO of UNFI.
Source: businesswire.com
United States: The Fresh Market surpasses one million loyalty club members in less than a year
The Fresh Market, Inc. celebrates a milestone: in less than a year, the specialty food retailer’s loyalty program has reached more than one million members. The ultimate loyalty experience (ULX) launched in March 2022 and has seen rapid increases, resulting in a weekly increase in satisfied shoppers across the company’s 160 stores and saving them thousands of dollars. This week marks the milestone of reaching its millionth member – in less than seven months.
Source: prnewswire.com
United States: Kroger is in talks to join forces with rival Albertsons
Kroger Co. is in talks about a tie-up with rival Albertsons Cos. as part of a deal that would create an American grocery giant, people familiar with the matter said. No final decision has been made and the talks could still be delayed or fail. Representatives for Albertsons and Kroger could not immediately be reached for comment.
Source: bnnbloomberg.ca
United States: Bashas promotes Steve Mayer to COO
The Bashas family of stores has announced the promotion of Steve Mayer to Chief Operating Officer. It’s a move the company says reflects “the focus on growing the Bashas family of stores.”
Source: winsightgrocerybusiness.com
Poland eyes grocery chain as it regains control of economy
Poland’s de facto leader has revealed plans to buy the country’s biggest grocery chain, Zabka Polska SA, in the state’s latest bid to tighten its grip on the economy. “We are moving in this direction,” Jaroslaw Kaczynski, the leader of the ruling Law and Justice party, told a rally in Pulawy, eastern Poland. The government has pledged to “take back most strategic sectors of our economy from foreign capital”, he said. The state may also soon buy PKP Energetyka, an electricity distribution company, according to Kaczynski. Zabka and PKP Energetyka belong to the American private equity fund CVC Capital Partners. Krzysztof Krawczyk, who runs CVC in Warsaw, declined to comment when contacted by Bloomberg.
Source: bnnbloomberg.ca
Amazon overtakes Zalando and Wehkamp in the top Dutch e-commerce
Amazon is gaining a foothold in Dutch e-commerce. He is ahead of Zalando and Wehkamp in 4th place. Bol.com remains number 1. For the first time in years, electronics store Coolblue is not the second largest online seller in the Netherlands. Albert Heijn tops the store for just 30 million euros. dutch magazine flicker published its 14th annual ranking of the largest Dutch e-commerce players.
Source: ecommercenews.eu
UK: Snappy Shopper boosts online orders for convenience stores with 1p promotion
Fifty independent retailers across England and Wales have reportedly achieved a 46 per cent increase in online orders after taking part in a cost of living promotion via home delivery app Snappy Shopper. The campaign took place over three days (from 28 to 30 September) and during this period more than 3,000 lots were sold. The offer allowed customers to stock up on lunch essentials for just a penny: 3 or 4 multipacks of juice; 6 pack of chips; Fruit; 400g of bread; Sandwich filling, e.g. Cold cuts or cheese pack 100g
Source: talkretail.com
UAE supermarket chain Lulu hires Moelis for IPO – sources
Abu Dhabi-based supermarket chain Lulu Group International is planning an IPO and has hired investment bank Moelis & Co to advise it, two sources familiar with the matter said. Lulu, one of the largest supermarket chains in the Gulf region founded by Indian-born businessman Yusuff Ali, operates 239 stores in 23 countries and employs more than 60,000 people, according to its website.
Source: Reuters.com
The number of SPAR Express stores on Polish AVIA forecourts is on the rise
Polandit’s AVIA fforecourt network has announced that 25 of its sites now have SPAR Express retail stores, the number of outlets “increasing steadily”. AVIAwhich is managed in Poland by the Unimot group, and STREAM started their partnership in December 2021, with their first openings. AVIA stations in Kobyłka and Józefównear Warsaw, are the latest locations to receive a SPAR Express store, the group said.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Australia: Produce box deliveries in Sydney help tackle food waste – and budget issues
Tackling food waste with Depression-era cooking hacks, ‘inflationary’ produce delivery boxes and ‘ugly’ vegetables could help Australian households save big on their grocery bills . Weekly delivery boxes filled with fruits and vegetables straight from farms have become increasingly popular after financial pressures from floods, freight and fertilizers drove the price of produce up 12.7% in the past 12 last months. Richard Tourino founded nationwide produce delivery service Good and Fugly during COVID shutdowns to connect consumers with fresh, but imperfect produce.
Source: goodfood.com.au
Philippines’ AllDay Supermarket Adds Another Supermarket First: Addie the Service Robot
After introducing several first-of-its-kind innovations to the market – from the country’s first self-service checkout counters to the introduction of smart shopping carts – AllDay Supermarket, the country’s fastest growing supermarket operator is looking again to take its customer service and experiences to new heights, introducing the nation’s first fully automated grocery assistant and supermarket product promoter: Addie, the supermarket service robot.
Source: businessmirror.com.ph
UK: Asda home delivery strike looms amid pay cut concerns
The GMB union is set to vote for its members working as Asda home delivery drivers after learning of ‘shocking’ management plans which include the scrapping of a pay supplement it says will see pay cuts £1.50 per hour. Voting will close in four weeks. If the dispute continues, the GMB says it could lead to a strike in the run-up to Christmas.
Source: retailtechinnovationhub.com
Australia: A taste of the Mediterranean at Sydney’s brand new Coles Local 
Coles has unveiled its latest Coles Local format store in Earlwood, tailored to the local community with an expanded range of Mediterranean products and exciting new innovations to inspire Sydney shoppers. Coles Local Earlwood will also be the first store in Sydney to offer the following successful Coles Local innovations: bread freshly warmed by the in-store bread warmer; single-serve ice cream from a new frozen dessert bar, alongside the hit bar Mochi with Macarons and Mini Gelato; frozen fruit picking and weighing station with the ability to mix and match six varieties of frozen fruit.
Source: colesgroup.com.au
UK: Aldi welcomes more shoppers as they leave major retailers
Aldi has welcomed more shoppers as they continue to leave major retailers amid the cost of living crisis, new research has revealed. According to market research agency Kantar, the German discounter welcomed 1.65 million additional customers in the 12 weeks to October 2. Kantar data shows Aldi made nearly £260m in sales from other major retailers during this period, including more than £56m in sales from Tesco as well as £12m sales from Lidl.
Source: epiceriegazette.co.uk