USA: Fred Meyer workers in Portland, Oregon, begin strike
Fred Meyer workers in the Portland area are currently on picket lines for a week-long strike that is set to last until September 3. The protest is centered around unfair labor practices. UFCW Local 555 accuses Portland, Oregon-based Fred Meyer, owned by Kroger, of refusing to provide essential information for the ongoing negotiations.
Source: supermarketnews.com
USA: Publix opens another location in Kentucky
The Florida-based grocer announced it is moving forward with opening a new store in Owensboro, Kentucky, about 100 miles southwest of Louisville and the state’s fourth-largest city.
Source: progressivegrocer.com
Amazon Fresh opens 4 stores in one day
The Seattle-based retail giant opened four new grocery stores in one day, following grand openings in Eatontown, New Jersey, in June and in the Chicago suburb of Arlington Heights in July. The four stores opened are in Bensalem, Pennsylvania, Roseville, California, Lodi, New Jersey, and Tinley Park, Illinois, an Amazon spokesperson said in an email to Supermarket News.
Source: supermarketnews.com
USA: The Fresh Grocer opens first location on Long Island
The Fresh Grocer celebrated the opening of its newest store – its first on Long Island – in Oakdale, New York. Located at 885 Montauk Highway in Lighthouse Commons, the store offers 25,000 square feet of freshly prepared food, groceries and produce in a full-service supermarket.
Source: progressivegrocer.com
JD.com expands its global distribution with improved shipping options and free shipping in the US, Japan and Singapore
JD Global Sales, the international e-commerce division of JD.com that serves Chinese consumers worldwide, announced improvements to its overseas shipping services for customers in the United States, Japan and Singapore. Starting August 28, shoppers will have access to enhanced logistics options, including consolidated shipping and three direct shipping models: Air Express, Air Standard and Sea Economical. These services are available for self-operated (1P) products purchased through the JD.com app.
Source: jdcorporateblog.com
Coles introduces compostable bags for fresh produce to create a more sustainable and plastic-free WA
Coles has removed single-use plastic bags for fresh fruit and vegetables from all its stores in Western Australia as part of the next stage of the state’s plastic ban, which comes into effect on September 1. The change will remove 36 million traditional plastic fruit and vegetable bags from circulation within a year.
Source: colesgroup.com.au
Fruit and vegetable sales recover in Sweden, study shows
Fruit and vegetable sales in Sweden are showing signs of recovery this year after falling sharply in 2022 and 2023 due to inflationary pressures weighing on consumers. According to the latest data from the Dagligvaruindex Frukt och Grönt (Fruit and Vegetable Food Index), fruit and vegetable sales increased by 3.3% in the first half of 2024 compared to the previous year. The volume of fruit and vegetable sales increased by 5.1% in the second quarter compared to the same period in 2023, the data showed. Mats Dalin, purchasing manager for fruit and vegetables at Coop Sweden, said: “We are very pleased that our customers and members can prioritize buying fruit and vegetables again.”
Source: esmmagazine.com
Poland: Eurocash Group reports weak first half due to slower than expected economic recovery
Eurocash Group has reported a decline in revenue and profit in the first half of the year as the Polish economy is recovering more slowly than economists and analysts expected. In the first half of the year, Eurocash Group generated revenue of PLN 15.8 billion (€3.7 billion), 1% less than in the first half of 2023.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Germany: Aldi Nord launches new campaign to promote freshness
The discounter Aldi Nord has announced the launch of a new campaign entitled “Freshness is so easy” with which it wants to promote the fresh products in its stores. Aldi Nord recently launched a major price promotion in the fruit and vegetable section. In the coming weeks, Aldi Nord plans to reduce the prices of numerous fruit and vegetable items. At the start of the campaign, for example, table pears will cost 2.89 euros per kilogram instead of 3.29 euros, which corresponds to a reduction of 12 percent.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Morrisons is cutting prices on over 2,000 products in stores and online for More Card customers
Morrisons reported: “Morrisons has announced its latest offer for customers. It includes thousands of significantly lower prices for More Card customers, a growing range of products included in the Aldi and Lidl Price Match promise and a continuation of its Low Everyday Price promise – permanently low prices on products that customers love. Morrisons has also added over 70 products to its Aldi and Lidl Price Match, which was launched in February this year to reassure customers that hundreds of weekly staples are still the same price or less than those offered by Aldi and Lidl. These additional products include weekly staples such as broccoli, mince, cheese, potatoes and rice.”
Source: morrisons-corporate.com
SPAR NI invests in EUROSPAR supermarket in Coleraine
Henderson Group, SPAR UK’s wholesaler for Northern Ireland, celebrated the opening of the EUROSPAR supermarket on Millburn Road in Coleraine. The store offers customers an expanded offering with up to 2,000 new products across a range of departments, from frozen to long-life, including an extensive range of fresh produce, over 75% of which is sourced locally, and an expanded bakery.
Source: spar-international.com
