Change of cart: Tata plans CEO change at BigBasket
Grocery etailer BigBasket's founders have held discussions with Tata Group to step away from day-to-day operations and transition into mentoring roles, people aware of the matter said. CEO Hari Menon's five-year tenure is nearing completion following the conglomerate's acquisition of the Bengaluru-based company in 2021.
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com
Poland: Żabka Group achieves double-digit sales growth in first half
Żabka Group reported strong financial results in the first half of its 2025 financial year, demonstrating growth in scale, improved margins, and continued debt reduction. The company plans to open over 1,300 new stores in Poland and Romania for the full year - a number revised upwards, from an initial goal of 1,100. Consolidated sales to end customers reached PLN 14.8bln (€3.45bln) - up by 4.4% - while revenue amounted to PLN 12.8bln (€2.98bln) - up by 14.7%.
Source: esmmagazine.com
UK: Abel & Cole 'faces off' fast food giants at iconic Leicester Square location
Abel & Cole has taken over a prime billboard site on London's iconic Leicester Square for the launch of its new campaign: 'Unprocess your food'. The audacious creative, produced by Hearts & Minds, sees the organic delivery pioneer going head-to-head with the UK's fast food giants.
Source: naturalnewsdesk.co.uk
India: Star Localmart acquires retail chain DusMinute
Star Localmart, the retail arm of Sanjay Ghodawat Group (SGG), has acquired DusMinute, a Bengaluru based retail chain exclusively present in gated communities. This strategic acquisition expands Star Localmart's network to 170 stores, positioning it as the largest regional retail player.
Source: thehansindia.com
Lidl GB shoots past plant-based target, achieving nearly 700% sales uptake
Lidl GB reported: "Lidl GB has revealed it has surpassed its original 2025 target of a 400% increase in meat-free and alternative milk sales, achieving a staggering 694%. This milestone forms part of the retailer's broader commitment to increasing the proportion of plant-based protein to 25% of total protein sold by 2030, in alignment with the Planetary Health Diet by 2050. With the Vemondo Plant! range at the forefront, the discounter reveals that sales of plant-based products outperformed meat-style alternatives by almost 20% when comparing the top 3 veggie products to the best-selling meat replacements".
Source: corporate.lidl.co.uk
SPAR Hungary modernises three stores 
SPAR Hungary has invested in modernising three supermarkets located in Budapest and Ajka. The SPAR Supermarket on Üllői Road in Budapest reopened, following an investment of €755,700. The supermarket, with a 573m² sales area, now features new refrigeration units, modern fruit and vegetable racks, a bakery, and a special offer zone. SPAR Hungary invested €2.5mln in the modernisation of its supermarket in Ajka. With a retail sales area of 838m², the supermarket now includes new refrigeration units, fruit and vegetable racks, bakery fixtures, and updated cash registers. The modernised SPAR Supermarket located on Nefelejcs Street in Budapest's 18th district reopened after a €2.49mln investment. The interior has been redesigned to ensure that fresh products, including vegetables, bakery items, and grilled foods, are easily accessible.
Source: spar-international.com
Co-op Wholesale ramps up support for Northern Ireland retailers with levy removals
Co-op Wholesale reported: "In a proactive move to support independent retailers across Northern Ireland, Co-op Wholesale has announced the removal of the case and low volume levy for all customers in the region, effective 1st September".
Source: coopwholesale.co.uk
South African retailer Shoprite earnings rise on festive, Easter demand
Shoprite Holdings, South Africa's biggest supermarket retailer, reported a 15.8% rise in full-year earnings, as customers stocked up on food during the festive and Easter seasons. Group sales from continuing operations grew 8.6% to 252.7bln rand ($14.39bln), as the retailer's core business, Supermarkets South Africa, achieved sales growth of 9.5%, with like-for-like sales growth of 4.8%.
Source: reuters.com
Naver partners with Kurly to enhance early morning fresh food delivery in Korea
Naver will begin its full-fledged early morning delivery service in collaboration with Kurly. Naver has launched a smart store early morning delivery service, including fresh produce, through its logistics subsidiary, Nextmile.
Source: biz.chosun.com
UK: Snappy Shopper hails game-changer for local retail as q-commerce firm integrates with Google
Snappy Shopper says it has become the first UK-based quick commerce platform to fully integrate with Google Shopping via the Google Merchant Center. Its retailers now have the opportunity to appear in top Google results, showcasing live product listings, real-time pricing and delivery within the hour.
Source: retailtechinnovationhub.com
Branding fruit and vegetables: Consumer behaviour report and survey
International Supermarket News reported: "Key findings from the ISN consumer survey - Brand trust matters: over 60% of respondents said they are more likely to purchase fruit and vegetables from a recognisable brand they trust. Consistency and quality: consumers value consistency. Branded fruit and vegetables signal reliability in taste, freshness, and appearance, leading to repeat purchases. Perceived safety: in an era of heightened food safety concerns, 55% of consumers indicated that branding provides reassurance regarding origin, traceability, and ethical sourcing. Premium willingness: a notable 40% of respondents stated they are willing to pay a premium for branded produce, particularly if linked to sustainability, local farming, or superior quality. Emotional connection: branding in fresh produce is also beginning to influence emotional factors such as family trust, health perception, and lifestyle alignment".
Source: internationalsupermarketnews.com
Amazon launches Infrastructure Region in New Zealand
Amazon reported: "Amazon announced the launch of the AWS Asia Pacific (New Zealand) Region. The new AWS Region will give developers, startups, entrepreneurs, and enterprises, as well as financial services, retail, education, government, and nonprofit organizations, greater choice for running their applications and serving end users from data centers located in New Zealand".
Source: businesswire.com
Seven & i completes supermarket spin-off to focus on convenience stores
Seven & i Holdings Co said it has completed the sale of a subsidiary operating some 30 retailers, including the struggling Ito-Yokado supermarket chain, to a U.S. private equity firm so it can focus on its 7-Eleven convenience store business. Seven & i said in March it would sell the subsidiary, York Holdings Co, to Bain Capital for 814.7bln yen. Bain will hold 60% of York Holdings, with the remainder held by Seven & i and its founding family.
Source: japantoday.com