Currently about 25% of Loblaw’s produce is sourced locally, that is about to change. Loblaw is looking to promote their home-grown produce. In-store signage will also focus on their produce offerings. The Globe & Mail
Organic and natural foods grocer Whole Foods is reducing its Austin, TX-based corporate staff by 49 positions, or about 7.5%. The move comes amid a 30% reduction in third quarter profits. Austin (TX) Business Journal (Aug. 13, 2008) The company previously announced plans to reduce the number of new store openings in 2009 to fifteen. Austin [...]
Lakeland, Fla.-based Publix Super Markets seems to be promoting a low-price image to a greater extent than in the past by discounting food staples indefinitively. The chain has dropped the price on a gallen of milk by 19 percent. Tampa Tribune (Fla.) (Aug. 9, 2008)
British consumers are turning their backs on high-priced food. The first British Whole Foods outlet has been met with a poor sales performance. Yesterday, Tesco announced that their prices on organic produce will be slashed by an average of 15%.
The Guardian
Montreal’s Metro grocery chain will soon undertake a rebranding. Starting next month, Metro will spend $200 Million converting it’s various banners in Metro outlets. The move, which will spell the end to its well-established A&P and Dominion banners – acquired three years ago – follows moves by competitors in the supermarket sector to sharpen their [...]
ASDA (subsidiary of Walmart) has called off some of their proposed changes to the distribution deals that they had in place with magazine publishers and distributors. The retail chain had received a great deal of negative feedback from the publishing community after ASDA’s magazine buyer had released a series of demands that were branded as “outrageous”. A source [...]
Despite the rise in profit and net income during the first quarter, Minnesota-based grocer Supervalu pared its full-year earnings guidance in the face of a challenging operating environment. On a conference call with investors, CEO Jeff Noddle said, “This environment certainly is more volatile than we’ve had over a number of years … and it [...]
Jewel-Osco announced Tuesday that it would open a 16,000 square foot store this fall in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood, under the “Urban Fresh, by Jewel” banner. “The new store will be designed as a specialty grocery store with a focus on fresh and prepared meals for busy shoppers.” supermarket News (July 16, 2008)
Aldi’s winning formula - is based on saving consumers £30 on a £100 weekly shopping bill in a no-frills store environment. The German discount retailer instead of stocking the traditional 25,000 product lines, they offer just 1,000 products to Aldi consumers. To combat this strategy the U.K.’s TESCO is planning on expanding their own in-house line of products.
The Times [...]
By completing the deal to purchase SOMERFIELD, the Co-operative Group is soon to enter back into the UK’s retail limelight. The annual sales for this Manchester based group is expected to be more than £10 billion.
The Times of London