South Africa: Pick n Pay announces leadership change
Pick n Pay announced that Pieter Boone is stepping down as Group CEO and will be replaced by Sean Summers. Sean returns to the Group following a previous, highly successful tenure as CEO between 1999 and 2006. Pieter will assist Sean through a short handover period.
Source: picknpayinvestor.co.za
Greece: Third lowest inflation in the eurozone, but food price hikes persist
Source: ekathimerini.com
Delhaize Belgium confirms final guidance measures for employees
Belgian retailer Delhaize has confirmed the final guidance measures applicable to the employees of the 128 supermarkets during the transition to an independent Delhaize supermarket.
Source: esmmagazine.com
UK families’ eating less healthily’ due to cost of living crisis
BBC Good Food Nation survey finds 19% of Britons eating more processed foods because they are cheaper. The survey found that the four most common foods people threw away were salad leaves (31%), bread (29%), fruit (24%) and vegetables (23%).
Source: theguardian.com
Holland: Retail turnover almost 6% higher in August
Statistics Netherlands (CBS) reports for August 2023 that the Dutch retail sector recorded 5.9% year-on-year turnover growth. The volume of sales decreased by 2.1%. Turnover was up by 6.3% in the food sector and by 4.3% in the non-food sector. Furthermore, online retail turnover increased by 3.6% year on year.
Source: cbs.nl
France: Debt-laden Casino seals sale of first batch of 61 stores to Les Mousquetaires
Debt-burdened Casino said it had completed the sale of the first set of 61 stores in France to Groupement Les Mousquetaires and had extended its purchasing alliance with the French retailer to include private-label food products. The sale of the 61 stores, including hypermarkets, supermarkets, Franprix grocery shops, and convenience stores, represents revenue of 563mln euros ($594.75mln) excluding value-added tax (VAT), based on an enterprise value of 209mln euros, including service stations, the statement said.
Source: reuters.com
SPAR Austria uses multiple solutions to tackle food waste 
Newly implemented IT tools analyze the data on sale volumes, weather conditions, and other factors to estimate optimal quantities of product orders in each store with an expected 90% of accuracy in predictions. The system is being trialed for fruit and vegetable ordering in SPAR Austria stores before expanding to other food groups.
Source: spar-international.com
Esselunga Group: First half 2023 results
Esselunga Group generated sales totaling € 4,638.0mln, recording a 7.3% growth compared to the same period in 2022. Shelf prices showed a 9.8% average increase against a 10.5% average suppliers’ inflation.
Source: esselunga.it
Latvian government blasted for plan to drop 5% VAT rate for fruits and vegetables
The refusal of the 5% value-added tax rate for fruits and vegetables is a “slap in the faces” of local farmers, consumers of local products, and traders who have been fighting dishonest competitors working in the grey economy all this time, says Latvian Fruit and Vegetable Traders Association.
Source: bnn-news.com
Iceland boss quits Tories labeling party ‘out of touch’
The boss of Iceland supermarkets, who had hoped to become a Conservative MP, has quit the party, labeling it “out of touch.” The attack from Richard Walker came on the eve of the annual Conservative conference, as delegates gathered in Manchester.
Source: bbc.com
France: Casino extends deadline with creditors to October 3Casino, the indebted French supermarket retailer under pressure on the bond markets, said that it has extended a deadline with its creditors to October 3. “This extension will enable ongoing negotiations on a lock-up agreement to continue,” said Casino.
Source: reuters.com
Holland: Ahold Delhaize joins forces with Rewe and E.Leclerc
Dutch retail group Ahold Delhaize is joining Eurelec, the purchasing alliance founded by Rewe and E.Leclerc. From 2025, the three European retail giants will start buying together to tackle European price differences.
Source: retaildetail.eu
Australian act costing $20bln and how supermarkets make a profit
Researchers from the Australia Institute found that Australian households waste 7.6mln tonnes of food every year. The report attributes strict cosmetic standards on the appearance of fruits and vegetables as the reason for products being wasted.
Source: dailymail.co.uk
Brazil’s securities watchdog agrees to ‘plea bargain’ on Americanas’ probe
Brazil’s securities watchdog CVM said it has approved a mechanism similar to a plea bargain for cases related to bankrupt Brazilian retailer Americanas in the midst of a billion-dollar financial fraud probe.
Source: reuters.com
US: Walmart changing titles, pay structure for corporate staff
Walmart announced changes to job titles and pay structure for its corporate staff starting in November. “As Walmart has continued to grow and evolve over the years, so have the jobs needed to support our business,” a Walmart spokesperson told FOX Business in a statement.
Source: foxbusiness.com
US: Teamsters union pickets two Amazon warehouses in Los Angeles
The Teamsters union on Friday picketed outside two Amazon.com warehouses in Los Angeles, protesting against the online retailer’s labor practices.
Source: reuters.com
US: Wonder Group buying meal kit company Blue Apron for about $103mln
Wonder Group is buying meal kit company Blue Apron for about $103mln as the company looks to enhance its offerings. Blue Apron shareholders will receive $13 per share for each share that they own.
Source: apnews.com
