Russia: Discounter Svetofor sets sights on Romania
Russian discount retailer Svetofor has announced plans expand to Romania with the opening of a network of stores under the Mere banner. According to an article in ZF Companii, the retailer plans to open 100 stores in the next two years, the first opening this September in Snagov, about 40km north of Bucharest, and the […]
UK: Tesco announces plans for strategic alliance with Carrefour
European supermarket heavyweights Tesco and Carrefour have announced plans to form a strategic alliance covering global supplier relationships, the joint purchasing of own brand products and goods not for resale. Anticipated to be formally agreed within the next two months, the partnership will be governed by a three-year operational framework. In a statement, the retailers said the […]
Belgium: Louis Delhaize to close online grocery platform Wink
Louis Delhaize, a Belgian retail group operating supermarkets and hypermarkets under banners such as Cora and Match, is to close its online grocery platform Wink, according to a Gondola article. Established in 2013, Wink operated as a standalone e-commerce brand with an emphasis on click and collect ordering, but failed to gain significant traction in […]
Norway: Iceland opens two stores
Frozen foods retailer Iceland has opened its first two stores in Norway and is now looking for new sites in the country in which to expand, the company has announced. The UK-based chain, which already has a moderate presence in international markets, opened its first store in Norway at the end of May, located in […]
USA: Kroger seals tie-up with Ocado
Kroger, the leading US supermarket business, has announced that it has sealed a partnership with UK grocery e-retailer Ocado in order to “accelerate Kroger’s creation of a seamless shopping experience for America’s families”. The firm said that the deal would bring the technology behind Ocado’s Smart Platform, which includes online ordering, automated fulfillment and home […]
Germany: Kaufland launches Bevola personal care brand
Kaufland, the leading German supermarket chain operated by the Schwarz Group, has announced the launch of a new private label brand called Bevola, focused on health and beauty and exclusively available at Kaufland stores. Launched with the slogan “love yourself – take care of yourself”, the brand line consists of over 120 items targeted at “the […]
UK: Sainsbury’s and Asda announce merger agreement
Supermarket chains Sainsbury’s and Asda, the 2nd and 3rd leading players in UK grocery retail respectively, have announced that they have reached an agreement to merge the two business in a deal that is set to shake up the UK supermarket sector. “The Combined Business will create a dynamic new player in UK retail with an outstanding […]
Argentina: Walmart and Mercadoni form e-commerce alliance
The Argentinian arm of US retailer Walmart and Mercadoni, a leading online shopping platform, have announced a partnership agreement enabling online orders to be delivered faster, according to a report in America Retail. According to sources, the agreement allows orders in the city of Buenos Aires to be delivered within two hours of being placed. […]
Brazil: Carrefour to open 50 new stores in 2018
French retailer Carrefour has announced that it intends to invest R$1.8 billion ($532.7 million) in Brazil across 2018, with plans in place to open 50 new stores over the course of the year. According to InfoMoney, the investment was announced by the company’s CFO Sébastien Durchon during a meeting with investors. The retailer said it […]
Mexico: Chedraui acquires Fiesta Mart
The US arm of Mexican grocer Chedraui has reached an agreement to acquire the Texan supermarket chain Fiesta Mart. The deal was made through Chedraui’s California-based division Bodega Latina, owner of the El Super chain, and allows Bodega Latina to expand to Texas, where Fiesta Mart operates 63 supermarkets. Commenting on the purchase, Bodega Latina’s […]