US: Stater Bros. names COO as next CEO
Stater Bros. Markets' current president and chief operating officer Greg McNiff has been appointed to the role of chief executive and president, while current CEO and chairman of the board Pete Van Helden will remain with the company in the role of executive chairman of the board. Both appointments will be effective on September 29. All functional areas of the company will report to McNiff.
Source: chainstoreage.com
US: Lowe's Markets moves to elevate produce departments
Texas-based independent grocery store chain Lowe's Markets has expanded its agreement with EmpowerFresh, an AI-powered ordering and analytics platform built especially for independent retailers' produce departments. Based on the success of an initial six-store pilot, the companies will extend EmpowerFresh's solutions to 68 Lowe's Markets locations across Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona and Kansas.
Source: progressivegrocer.com
US: Kroger is reviewing its automated e-commerce fulfillment network
Kroger is conducting a "full site-by-site analysis" of its automated order-fulfilment network as it looks to improve profitability and reduce costs, interim CEO Ron Sargent said during the grocer's second-quarter earnings call. The supermarket operator intends to focus on store-level fulfillment as it strives to provide grocery delivery services faster and more efficiently, Sargent said. Kroger's total sales for the quarter came in at $33.9bln, in line with its results during the same period in 2024.
Source: grocerydive.com
The Fresh Market named Best Grocery Store by USA TODAY
USA TODAY's 10Best Readers' Choice Awards has named specialty food retailer The Fresh Market the top grocery store across several categories. The Fresh Market took first place in the Best Grocery Store category. The Fresh Market also scored first in Best Store Bakery, Best Store Deli, Best Store for Produce and Best Store Prepared Food. This marks the first time the premium grocer has placed first in all categories.
Source: progressivegrocer.com
Canada: Empire reports fiscal 2026 first quarter results
Empire Company Limited ("Empire" or the "Company") announced its financial results for the first quarter ended August 2, 2025. For the quarter, the Company recorded net earnings of $212mln ($0.91 per share) compared to $208mln ($0.86 per share) last year. On an adjusted basis for the quarter, the Company recorded net earnings of $212mln ($0.91 per share) compared to $219mln ($0.90 per share) last year.
Source: empireco.ca
London calling for Walmart Marketplace as office opens to support UK and EMEA online sellers
Walmart Marketplace has officially launched its new London office to support UK and EMEA sellers looking to access Walmart.com. In a LinkedIn post, Liz KIndell, Senior Manager, Business Development UK & EMEA at Walmart Marketplace, said: "We were absolutely thrilled to welcome so many ambitious, curious sellers to our launch event - the energy in the room was electric, and it's clear there's huge excitement about the opportunity ahead".
Source: retailtechinnovationhub.com
Ahold Delhaize and The Global FoodBanking Network continue partnership one year on
Ahold Delhaize reported: "Greece: supporting the Athens Central Grocery Market surplus agricultural recovery program. Since September 2024, the surplus agricultural recovery program from the Athens Central Grocery Market (ACGM) has recovered and redistributed more than 75,934 kilograms of fresh produce from 29 market vendors. This initiative has reached 42,584 people through 87 local charities across the Attica region of Athens. "We're grateful for the strong and positive collaboration we've built with GFN over the past year, and excited to continue this collaboration", said Alex Holt, Chief Sustainability Officer at Ahold Delhaize".
Source: newsroom.aholddelhaize.com
Delhaize to open seven new supermarkets in Belgium
Delhaize is set to open seven new supermarkets across Belgium in early 2026, significantly expanding its presence in the Belgian retail market. These new stores, strategically located in Anderlecht, Woluwe-Saint-Lambert, La Louvière, Châtelineau, Hornu, Rocourt, and Messancy, will each boast an average sales area of 2,000 square metres and offer the full Delhaize shopping experience, including e-commerce pick-up points.
Source: esmmagazine.com
SPAR Austria invests €19mln in INTERSPAR Hallein
SPAR Austria has reopened the INTERSPAR Hypermarket in Hallein after 14 months of construction and an investment of €19mln. One of the highlights is the vibrant fruit and vegetable marketplace located right at the entrance.
Source: spar-international.com
HelloFresh launches meal brand Factor in French-speaking market
A good two years after its launch in Flanders, HelloFresh is now also launching its brand of ready-to-eat meals Factor in Brussels and Wallonia. "Sales in Flanders are better than hoped for", says the company, which wants to continue growing in Europe.
Source: retaildetail.eu
UK: Aldi reinforces value promise after investing £300mln in price cuts
As the grocery sector approaches the key Christmas trading period, Aldi has reaffirmed its commitment to keeping grocery bills low amid rising inflation. The discounter noted that it had already invested more than £300mln in price cuts since the start of this year, reducing the cost of over 900 products in recent months, including fresh fruit and vegetables, bread, dairy and household essentials.
Source: kamcity.com
Up to 400 large UK stores at risk of closure from property tax hike, says BRC
Up to 400 of the UK's biggest shops - from supermarkets to department stores - are at risk of closure if the government forces them into its proposed higher business rates tax band, the British Retail Consortium trade body warned.
Source: esmmagazine.com
MPs raise concerns over Asda's link to app offering high-interest loans to staff
An influential group of MPs has sought assurances that Asda is not "squeezing staff" to drive profit after it emerged they are being offered high-interest loans by Wagestream, a company in which the retailer's owner has a stake.
Source: theguardian.com
Swedish retailer ICA crowned Europe's strongest grocery retail brand
Sweden's ICA has been named the strongest grocery retail brand in Europe, in the latest edition of the Top 50 Strongest European Grocery Retail Brands report, prepared by ESM: European Supermarket Magazine and Brand Finance.
Source: esmmagazine.com
France and Belgium: Carrefour takes stake in halal chain Hmarket
French supermarket chain Carrefour has taken a 10% stake in Hmarket, a supermarket chain with branches in France and Belgium. This investment of ten million euros should strengthen the existing cooperation between the two chains.
Source: retaildetail.eu