Sweden: Salling Group to acquire Rimi Baltic from ICA Gruppen

Denmark’s largest retailer Salling Group has acquired Rimi Baltic, a retail chain active in the Baltic States, from Swedish grocery retailer ICA Gruppen for €1.3 billion ($1.4 billion), excluding debt. The deal, reportedly the largest in Salling Group’s history, is described as being in line with the ambitions of the company’s Aspire ’28 business strategy, […]
Poland: Biedronka to open first store in Slovakia

Polish retailer Biedronka has announced it is opening its first ever store in Slovakia this month, supported by a new distribution centre in Voderady. The new store in Miloslavov is expected to offer 3,400 product lines. It intends to source half of its fresh food from Slovak suppliers, with a long-term goal of stocking 40% Slovak products. A […]
Ireland: Lidl to invest €600 million in new stores, distribution centre

Lidl, the German retail giant, has announced that it will invest €600 million ($625 million) to open 35 new stores and a regional distribution centre in Ireland over the next five years. As a part of the programme, the retailer plans to open 12 stores over the next 12 months and invest €200 million ($208 […]
USA: Aldi to sell 170 Winn-Dixie And Harveys stores

Aldi, the German retail giant, has announced the sale of 170 Winn-Dixie And Harveys supermarket stores in the US to C&S Wholesale Grocers, a consortium of private investors. Aldi bought 400 Winn-Dixie And Harveys grocery stores and 170 Winn-Dixie liquor stores in 2023 and plans to convert the remaining 220 Winn-Dixie And Harveys stores to […]
Canada: Walmart invests in stores and supply chain

Supermarket chain Walmart has just announced the investment of C$6.5 billion ($4.5 million) over the next five years to boost growth in Canada. In a press release, the firm said it planned to build dozens of stores all over Canada and five new supercentres in Ontario and Alberta by 2027. A Port Credit Walmart Supercentre is […]
France: Carrefour and Lagardere to open 150 train station stores

SNCF Gares & Connexions, the French train station operator, has selected retail giant Carrefour and travel retail group Lagardere to open 150 food stores over the next five years, following a competitive tender process. The initiative falls under SNCF Gares & Connexions’ “Place de la Gare” programme, which aims to integrate community-focused services into urban […]
France: Lidl opens “largest” logistics hub

Discount retailer Lidl has announced the opening of a new logistics hub in Ablis, southwest Paris, which is claimed to be the company’s largest anywhere in Europe. According to sources, the new facility will in a first stage serve Lidl’s 50 or so stores in the Paris region, while also having potential for further expansion. […]
France: Carrefour to close operations in Oman, Jordan

Carrefour, the leading French supermarket chain, has ended operations in the Middle East state Oman after three decades operating in the country. The closure affects 13 hypermarkets and two supermarkets which now operate under the Hypermax name. “Effective from January 7, 2025, Carrefour operations will be discontinued in the Sultanate of Oman”, the company said in […]
Portugal: Sonae MC debuts ‘world’s largest’ autonomous supermarket

Sensei, a global leader in autonomous retail technology, has announced the introduction of “the world’s largest autonomous supermarket”, in partnership with Portugal’s leading grocery retailer Sonae MC. The 1,200 s m Continente Bom Dia store in Leiria is described as integrating computer vision, shelf sensors and real-time inventory tracking, in “a new customer experience with […]
Australia: Woolworths seeks approval for Beak and Johnston acquisition

Woolworths, the Australian supermarket chain, has filed for clearance with New Zealand’s Commerce Commission to acquire Beak & Johnston subsidiaries Beak & Johnston NZ Pty Ltd (BJNZ), B&J City Kitchen Pty Ltd (BJCK) and Alors. Beak & Johnston is a manufacturer of chilled and frozen ready meals, soups and meat which are sold under brands such […]