Portugal: Pingo Doce launches its own online grocery platform
Portuguese supermarket chain Pingo Doce has launched its own online grocery platform, Pingo Doce Online, in Lisbon and Porto, returning to direct e-commerce after concluding a seven-year partnership with Glovo's Mercadão. "Although the collaboration with Mercadão was a foray into online sales that allowed us to provide access to convenient shopping, we realized that providing our customers with a full online shopping experience at Pingo Doce would not be possible using third parties", explained Pingo Doce's Innovation and Digital Director, Francisco Soure, to Economia Online. Pingo Doce highlights its fresh produce, personalised service, and existing loyalty programme as key differentiators in the competitive online grocery market.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Sweden: Report from ICA Gruppen's annual general meeting 2025
ICA Gruppen reported: "ICA Gruppen Aktiebolag ("ICA Gruppen" or the "Company") has today, 20 May 2025, held its annual general meeting. ICA Gruppen's annual general meeting resolved, among other things, to adopt the income statement and the balance sheet as well as the consolidated income statement and the consolidated balance sheet and to discharge the members of ICA Gruppen's board of directors and the CEO from liability for the financial year 2024".
Source: icagruppen.se
Spain: Consum boosts market position with positive FY 2024 performance
Valencian supermarket cooperative Consum ended its 2024 financial year with a turnover of €4.7bln - a 7.3% increase compared to 2023 - and profit growth of 7.5% to €108.7mln. Consum CEO Antonio Rodríguez attributed Consum's positive results to the strong performance of its fresh produce section, which outperformed dry goods sales by double, and its maintained competitive pricing strategy.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Freshflow raises €6.5mln to bring the first AI for fresh replenishment to every grocery aisle in Europe
Freshflow has successfully secured €6.5mln in new funding to accelerate roll-outs of the first AI platform in Europe built for grocery retailers' fresh departments. The round is led by World Fund, Capnamic, Venture Stars, Caesar Ventures and Catatumbo Capital, who are all doubling down on their previous investments in Freshflow. Fresh produce departments using Freshflow's AI for their daily ordering have experienced a sales uplift of 2-5%, as well as a food waste decrease of 20%+. According to Bastien Gelin, CEO of Groupe Yabe, among the largest Carrefour franchisers in France: "We have been working with Freshflow's AI for 9 months. Thanks to the application and Freshflow's team, we have radically improved our process in the fresh produce departments. We have seen strong results: more inventory turns, less waste and more freshness".
Source: freshflow.ai
Spain: Uvesco Group achieves 'record' revenue in FY 2024
Despite a challenging economic climate in 2024, Spanish food distributor Uvesco Group achieved 'record' growth with a 10.6% turnover increase, to €1.19bln. The good performance was driven by the acquisition of Super Hiber, adding 31 Madrid-based supermarkets, and the continued success of the BM model, emphasising fresh, local products, specialised services, staff training, and customer-focused initiatives. Following a failed acquisition attempt by Carrefour, CEO of Uvesco, José Ramón Fernández de Barrena, is advocating for a public-private partnership to acquire Pai Partners' stake in the company, should the fund choose to divest, reported daily El Economista.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Australia: How ALDI will not be beaten on price
ALDI Australia reported: "The majority of products arrive in 'shelf-ready packaging', including in the produce section where ALDI's fresh fruits and vegetables are kept in the delivery crates that come from the farm. Fresh is best, not only in terms of quality, but also in terms of price, with 100% of ALDI's fresh meat, eggs, fresh salmon and fresh poultry, as well as 97% of fruit and vegetables sourced from Australian farmers".
Source: aldiunpacked.com.au
REWE Group's Lekkerland taps VusionGroup retail technology for roll-out of 24/7 smart kiosks in Germany
Lekkerland, REWE Group's specialist in convenience solutions, has partnered with VusionGroup for a project involving its network of autonomous 24/7 smart kiosks that leverage self-checkout technology across Germany.
Source: retailtechinnovationhub.com
UK: M&S hit with class action lawsuit over cyber attack
Marks and Spencer (M&S) is facing a potential multi-million-pound class action lawsuit following a recent cyber attack that saw customer data stolen. Thompsons Solicitors is leading a group claim on behalf of affected customers, accusing the retailer of failing to adequately protect personal data. The firm said it had been "inundated" with complaints following the breach. Senior partner Patrick McGuire told The Sunday Mail: "This could be the biggest data theft case we have ever been involved in."
In other news, Reuters reported: Britain's M&S says cyberattack to cost $400mln.
Source: grocerygazette.co.uk
US: Wegmans lowering prices on must-have summer groceries
From meat to sides, and salads to desserts, Wegmans Food Markets is lowering prices on must-have items this summer. Sides: Grape Tomatoes QT ($4.49) Mini Cucumbers 2lb ($3.99) Bagged Sweet Onions 3lb. ($3.49) 6ct Mixed Peppers ($6.49) Green Squash ($1.49/lb.) Corn (5/$2) Whole Seedless Watermelon ($5.99) Family Pack Strawberries 2lb ($3.99). Customers can shop for these items here.
Source: progressivegrocer.com
US: Tony's Fresh Market reopening suburban Chicago store
Heritage Grocers Group (HGG), the largest Hispanic and ethnic food retailer in the United States, has revealed that its Chicago-based banner, Tony's Fresh Market, will hold a grand reopening for its store at 1801 West Jefferson Street in Joliet, Illinois, from May 21 through June 10. The banner's Joliet location will feature expanded product assortments and enhanced offerings tailored to the tastes and preferences of the local community, among them: a produce department with farm-fresh produce.
Source: progressivegrocer.com
US: Afresh recognized as Next Generation Supply Chain innovator by SVG Ventures-THRIVE
Afresh has been named a leader on the THRIVE Top 50 FoodTech Companies list for the second consecutive year. This annual ranking by SVG Ventures-THRIVE celebrates leading FoodTech companies and recognizes Afresh's innovation in the Next Generation Supply Chain category for its groundbreaking approach to modernizing the fresh food supply chain. Utilizing the world's first AI engine built for fresh grocery, Afresh enables accurate replenishment and inventory management across the supply chain, guaranteeing shoppers access to peak freshness while reducing grocers' waste.
Source: prnewswire.com
Brazil: Assaí Atacadista sees highest profitability since 2021
Brazilian cash-and-carry company Assaí Atacadista has reported a 'strong' first quarter in its 2025 financial year, with significant growth in sales, margins, and cash generation. Gross revenue reached R$20.3bln (€3.2bln), up 7.8% on the same period in 2024, driven by a 5.5% growth in same-store sales, while net profit grew 95% to R$117mln (€18.5mln).
Source: esmmagazine.com
US: Sprouts Farmers Market celebrates new store opening in West Deerfield Beach, FL
Sprouts Farmers Market has announced it will open a new store in Deerfield Beach, Florida on Friday, May 23, located at 3701 W Hillsboro Blvd. Ste B. A ribbon cutting will take place on Friday at 6:45 a.m. The doors to the store will open at 7 a.m.
Source: sprouts.com