Belgium: Albert Heijn returns to Leuven in September
Albert Heijn has confirmed the opening date of its new supermarket in the centre of Leuven, signalling its return to the city after an eight-year absence. The store is set to open on 24 September, General Manager Raf van den Heuvel announced.
Source: retaildetail.eu
New Zealand: Foodstuffs suggest 'shop to global conditions'
"Winter has been with us in earnest over the last two months, inhibiting growing conditions, damaging some crops, and closing roads, particularly in the Nelson and Marlborough regions, increasing costs through additional wait times and travelling alternative routes", said Foodstuffs NZ Managing Director Chris Quin. Spinach and even cabbage were in shorter supply, but July was a comparatively good month for many favourites: orange kumara, white potatoes, red capsicum, all around 15% cheaper than last year, and courgettes, brown onions, mandarins, parsnips and carrots down 4 to 10%.
Source: supermarketnews.co.nz
M&S: Launch of our brand new limited edition Pink Blush grapes 
M&S reported: "New in the M&S Foodhall! - We're upping our grape game YET AGAIN with the launch of our brand new limited edition Pink Blush grapes. Not only are these brilliant pink bunches bursting with exotic and tropical flavours, they're a WORLD exclusive to M&S Food, PLUS with a multilayered flavour profile, every bite is different. You might taste melon, blackberry, honey, or even candy! Perfect for picnics, packed lunches or a fresh fruit snack, have you tried them yet? Available in limited stores for the next 4 weeks - grab them while you can!"
Source: instagram.com
Spinneys supermarket franchisee to enter Kuwait market in JV with AlShaya
Supermarket chain franchisee Spinneys will enter the Kuwait market under a strategic partnership with Gulf retail giant Alshaya Group, and plans to open 10 stores in the country, the two firms said. United Arab Emirates-based Spinneys will own a 51% stake in the joint venture and will lead the operation and management of all Kuwait stores under the partnership, the two companies said in a joint statement.
Source: reuters.com
Compass serves up healthier dishes for its customers across the UK
Compass Group UK & Ireland reported: "Compass Group UK & Ireland, the UK's largest food and support services company, is continuing to increase healthy and sustainable choices for its customers, delivering on its commitments from its 'Our Wellbeing Promise'. Action taken to increase health and wellbeing outcomes include: An increase in vegetable procurement of 7.95% over 12 months. This equates to >12,000 tonnes. It includes more than 120mln portions of vegetables that were served to children. Compass is on track to achieving its target of 20% increase in vegetables by 2030".
Source: compass-group.co.uk
Denmark: Salling Group earmarks DKK 500mln for startups
Danish retailer Salling Group is offering funding for startups and innovators through its DKK 500mln (€67mln) Salling Seeds investment fund. Established in autumn 2024 as part of the group's Aspire28 strategy, the fund aims to nurture innovation in the retail sector.
Source: esmmagazine.com
UK: Autumn's arrived early as Waitrose reports speedy harvest
Waitrose reported: 'Compared to this time last year, sales for: Waitrose Bramley Apples +23%; Waitrose Blackberries +56%; Waitrose Conference Pears +21%. Colin Pratt, Fruit Farm Manager at Leckford Farm comments: "We're anticipating an earlier harvest - approximately 7-10 days ahead of average - due to the long, hot summer. We also expect this to be a higher 'Brix' year, the measurement used to establish how much sugar is in fruits, indicating a healthier and more nutrient-dense crop".'
Source: johnlewispartnership.media
Belgium: Permit for Jumbo in Genk annulled
The Flemish Council for Permit Disputes has annulled the permit of the supermarket that Jumbo opened in Genk on 2 July. The future of the establishment is thus suddenly highly uncertain.
Source: retaildetail.eu
Amazon lobbies Indian government to exempt exports from foreign investment rules, sources say
Amazon is lobbying the Indian government to ease its foreign investment rules to allow the U.S. company to buy products directly from Indian sellers to sell in overseas markets, four people with direct knowledge of the matter said.
Source: reuters.com
US: New Seasons Market will move its headquarters within Portland
New Seasons Market is relocating its headquarters, but only by a mile. The grocer will move in November to the Central Eastside of Portland, Oregon after previously being based in Southeast Portland.
Source: supermarketnews.com
US: Tops Markets advancing food as medicine
Tops Markets LLC has joined forces with NationsBenefits, a provider of supplemental benefit and health care fintech solutions, on a new retail integration enabling health plan members to use their NationsBenefits Benefits Mastercard Prepaid Card at all Tops locations to buy fresh produce, pantry staples and over the counter wellness essentials, with each transaction validated in real time by NationsBenefits' proprietary Basket Adjudication Service (BAS).
Source: progressivegrocer.com
US: BJ's Wholesale Club continues to find momentum in grocery (and fresh)
The expansion of Fresh 2.0 contributed to a strong second quarter for BJ's Wholesale Club, the retailer announced. Fresh 2.0 began in the produce section last year and expanded to the meat and seafood departments in May. BJ's Wholesale Club Chairman and CEO Bob Eddy described Fresh 2.0 as the best example of the company's transformation over the past couple of years and emphasized that perishables continue to drive the business. Net sales rose 3.2% year over year, surpassing $5.2bln. Comparable club sales, excluding gasoline, increased by 2.3%. It was also a record-setting quarter for BJ's Wholesale Club, with membership reaching 8mln. Membership fee income grew 9.0% year over year to $123.3mln.
Source: supermarketnews.com
US: H-E-B debuts 11th Joe V's Smart Shop in Houston
Continuing its expansion in Texas, H-E-B recently opened its newest Joe V's Smart Shop in north Houston, at I-45 and West Road. It offers competitive prices on fresh, high-quality products such as produce, in-store cut meats, tortillas and breads made in store, and sushi made daily.
Source: progressivegrocer.com
US: Papaya Fruit Market expands, opens upscale sixth store in West Dearborn with strong community support
Located at 22521 Michigan Avenue, the new store is the first Middle Eastern supermarket in West Dearborn, home to a growing Arab American community. Like its five other branches in Dearborn, Dearborn Heights, Detroit and Canton, the store offers fresh produce, halal beef and chicken, a bakery, a kitchen, groceries and imported foods from Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Turkey and Egypt as well as India and Indonesia.
Source: arabamericannews.com