UK: Marks & Spencer launches own brand pet food range
Marks & Spencer (M&S), the UK retailer, has entered the private label pet food category with the launch of a new own-brand range named Paws & Pals. The range introduces 13 new lines across kibble, treats and toppers for cats and dogs. Developed in-house, the products feature grain-free recipes made with “100% real ingredients”, high […]
South Korea: Ocado and Lotte Shopping launch automated fulfilment centre
Ocado, the UK-based e-commerce technology company, and Lotte Shopping, the South Korean retail operator, have launched their first automated customer fulfilment centre (CFC) in Busan, South Korea. Following a partnership formed in 2022 and initial order fulfilment using Ocado’s in-store software in 2025, the new automated site will serve a catchment covering 4 million households […]
Poland: Alimentation Couche-Tard to acquire controlling stake in Zabka Group
Alimentation Couche-Tard, the Canadian convenience and mobility retailer, has announced an agreement to acquire a controlling stake in Zabka Group, Poland’s largest convenience retailer. Through its wholly owned subsidiary Circle K Polska, Couche-Tard will initiate a voluntary tender offer at 32.00 PLN ($8.48) per share, valuing Zabka’s total equity at approximately 32.62 billion PLN ($8.6 billion). Key […]
UK: Tesco trials shelf-scanning robots
Tesco, the UK grocery giant, is trialling an autonomous robot named Tally to roam supermarket aisles and scan shelves for out-of-stock items, misplaced goods and pricing errors. Manufactured by Simbe Robotics, a US-based retail technology developer, the five-foot-tall robot utilises artificial intelligence, computer vision and cameras to independently navigate store aisles. The collected data regarding […]
USA: Kroger to acquire Giant Eagle
Kroger, the US retail giant, has signed a definitive agreement to acquire regional competitor Giant Eagle, a US food and pharmacy retailer, in a transaction valued at $1.65 billion. According to a company statement, the transaction consists of $1.25 billion in cash consideration alongside the assumption of approximately $400 million in outstanding liabilities. The deal, […]
Brazil: Cencosud to acquire St. Marche
Cencosud, one of the largest retailers in the Americas, has entered into an agreement to acquire 100% of the operations of St. Marche, a premium specialty grocery chain based in Brazil. The transaction, executed through Cencosud’s wholly-owned subsidiary Cencosud Brazil Comercial Ltda., involves the acquisition of the supermarket business from Hortus Comercio de Alimentos S.A. […]
Canada: Empire to expand discount store network
Empire, the Canadian food and pharmacy retailer and parent company of Sobeys, has announced plans to open 70 new grocery stores over the next three years. According to Pierre St-Laurent, the company’s president and chief executive officer, about three quarters of these new locations will be discount supermarkets. He noted that the group has “a […]
Tradeshow Look Ahead: Jeff Lenard, NACS Show 2026
Gama spoke to Jeff Lenard, Vice President of NACS Media & Strategic Communications, ahead of the latest edition of the NACS Show. What are your primary goals and expectations for the NACS Show 2026 in Las Vegas? Our goal every year is largely the same: we want to show attendees the future. This means […]
USA: Target opens largest food distribution centre in Colorado
Target, the US retail corporation, has expanded its logistics network with the launch of its newest and largest food distribution center in Thornton (CO). Representing a $367 million investment, the 529,000 sq m temperature-controlled facility will service 129 stores across 11 states. The facility is expected to employ 383 Target team members and features 12 […]
UK: Boots launches meal deal range catering to GLP-1 users
Boots, the UK health and beauty retailer, has introduced a new healthy on-the-go food range called Boost by Boots, designed to offer nutritionally balanced options at lunchtime, specifically targeting GLP-1 users. The new range of 15 products, including sandwiches, salads and sushi, is available as part of the Boots meal deal range. The product rollout […]