UK: John Lewis Partnership names industry veteran Tom Denyard as new Waitrose boss
British retailer the John Lewis Partnership named Tesco executive Tom Denyard as the managing director of its supermarket business Waitrose, effective January 2026. Denyard is currently leading Tesco Online, before which he held multiple executive roles within Tesco's diverse businesses.
Source: reuters.com
Carrefour & NielsenIQ's Seasonal Taste Barometer: Romanians turn to local, seasonal products in summer
Carrefour Romania and NielsenIQ are launching the "Seasonal Taste Barometer" study, a detailed analysis of Romanians' eating habits. The analysis shows an increasing preference for local, fresh, and seasonal products: melons generate one-third of fruit sales, potatoes dominate the vegetable category, and pork, yogurt, and egg consumption remains high among protein sources. According to NielsenIQ data, Romanians prefer fresh, local, and seasonal vegetables in the summer, with the following at the top of the list: potatoes, which account for 13% of total vegetable sales during the summer; onions; tomatoes, which also recorded the highest increase in sales volume compared to the rest of the year; peppers; mushrooms.
Source: business-review.eu
Retailer and farmer groups ask India to shun Amazon's plea to ease investment rules
Groups backing millions of small Indian retailers have urged the government to shun Amazon's request to ease strict foreign investment rules for exports, a letter shows, as opposition to a contentious policy change grows.
Source: reuters.com
UK: Innocent drinks rolls out high-veg-content smoothies
Innocent Drinks has launched new high-vegetable-content smoothies - Green Goodness and Red Goodness - as part of its goal to help consumers have options for a healthier lifestyle. The new products have launched in Sainsbury's and will roll out to all other major retailers in the upcoming months, available in 750 ml and 250 ml serving sizes. Green Goodness contains flavours of spinach, cucumber and courgette, and apple, mandarin and lemon. Meanwhile, the Red Goodness smoothie contains flavours of spinach, courgette, beetroot, cherry and carrot.
Source: grocerygazette.co.uk
Shoprite nears Africa consolidation finish line, with Mozambique under possible review
Shoprite Holdings, South Africa's largest supermarket chain, has largely completed the consolidation of its operations across Africa, but Mozambique is on the list of countries that might be reviewed, the CEO told Reuters.
Source: reuters.com
New Zealand: Fresh produce initiative launches in Te Puke
The Hub Te Puke has become the first collection point in the Western Bay for a national initiative aimed at making fresh fruit and veg more accessible. Foodtogether is a social enterprise that has brought together community groups and organisations to make it easy and convenient to access wholesale fresh fruit and vegetables. It works by buying on the open market, with a philosophy of "best bang for your buck" while also securing the freshest produce available. The Hub will be the drop-off point for the bulk produce, the place where it is packed into individual boxes, and the collection point. While the idea is to make fresh produce as affordable as possible, there are also other spin-off benefits of community connection and encouraging more fresh produce consumption with the associated health benefits.
Source: sunlive.co.nz
JBS merges Vivera and The Vegetarian Butcher
Meat group JBS is bringing its European plant-based brands together under a new umbrella: The Vegetarian Butcher Collective. By combining The Vegetarian Butcher and Vivera, the company aims to build more clout in the meat replacement category.
Source: retaildetail.eu
UK: M&S Food marks five years since Ocado launch by splashing carrier bag on delivery vans
In a LinkedIn post, Alex Freudmann, Managing Director at M&S Food, said: "It's exactly five years since M&S Food launched on Ocado. To celebrate, we've turned our iconic carrier bag into an Ocado van! Look out for more of them making deliveries near you".
Source: retailtechinnovationhub.com
Holland: Frits van Eerd loses voting rights as Jumbo shareholder
Former CEO Frits van Eerd no longer has a voice in decision-making on Jumbo. The Dutch supermarket chain reported this in a response to the sentencing of its former top executive on 7 August.
Source: retaildetail.eu
Canadians, behold the McVeggie™
McDonald's Canada reported: "It's official! Starting on September 16, the McVeggie™ sandwich will be rolled out nationally at participating McDonald's restaurants across the country. Following a tremendously positive response to the regional test earlier this year in British Columbia, Ontario, and New Brunswick, the McVeggie will be officially joining the menu to offer Canadians even more delicious and inclusive choices".
Source: mcdonalds.com
US: Shoppers Food plans to close 4 Maryland stores
Shoppers Food is planning to close four supermarkets in Maryland by October 11, the company said. The regional retailer, which is owned by wholesaler United Natural Foods Inc., is planning to shutter stores in Essex, New Carrollton, Waldorf, and Westminster, a spokesperson for UNFI told Supermarket News. After the closures, Shoppers Food will continue to operate 17 locations in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.
Source: supermarketnews.com
US: 100 years and counting: Winn-Dixie celebrates a century of serving communities
Winn-Dixie reported: "Winn-Dixie is celebrating its centennial with nostalgic pricing, special celebrations and a renewed commitment to fighting hunger. For 100 years, the grocer has been more than just a store - it's been a cornerstone of Southeast communities, serving generations through historic events, natural disasters and everyday moments. This milestone honors the people and places that made it possible".
Source: businesswire.com
US: Save Mart widens efforts to fight food waste
West Coast grocer The Save Mart Companies has expanded the rollout of its Flashfood partnership to include 11 Save Mart banner stores in California's Stanislaus County. The Flashfood app connects shoppers with fresh produce, meat and other groceries at up to 50% off.
Source: progressivegrocer.com
Cencosud acquires 100% of The Fresh Market
Cencosud reported: "Cencosud S.A., a leading retail company with operations in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, the United States, Colombia, and Peru, is pleased to announce that it has reached an agreement with AP VIII Pomegranate Holdings, L.P. ("Apollo") to acquire the remaining 33% stake in The Fresh Market Holdings, Inc. ("TFM") that it did not already own. With this acquisition, Cencosud will gain full ownership of TFM, further strengthening its position in the U.S. market".
Source: cencosud.com
US: Market Basket board, Demoulas set to begin mediation
Market Basket's board of directors and the company's suspended CEO, Arthur Demoulas, are scheduled to begin talks with a third-party mediator. Demoulas, who owns a minority stake in the 90-store chain, claims that the board is staging a "coup" to take control of the company.
Source: supermarketnews.com
US: Natural Grocers® honors Organic Month, 2025 with Rodale Institute fundraiser
Natural Grocers® is proud to raise awareness of Organic Month with sales on organic products, community education, fundraising efforts with Rodale Institute, and much more. Customers can learn more about the organic food movement and save big while trying new organic recipes, 100% organic produce and other organic offerings throughout their local store.
Source: prnewswire.com
US: Erewhon is coming to New York City - Kind of
The notoriously expensive and celebrity-favorite grocery store Erewhon is expanding its West Coast footprint to New York City as part of a development by fashion designer Ronnie Fieg in Greenwich Village.
Source: forbes.com