C&S, SpartanNash extend time for merger antitrust review
C&S Wholesale Grocers has withdrawn and then refiled certain documents related to its planned acquisition of SpartanNash in order to give antitrust officials more time to consider the merger. In a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, SpartanNash said C&S withdrew its Hart-Scott-Rodino Act Notification and Report Form on Monday and resubmitted it on Tuesday. The refiling launched another 30-day waiting period before the merger can be finalized.
Source: supermarketnews.com
US: ALDI takes Manhattan
Big news for the Big Apple: ALDI U.S. is working on its first location in Central Manhattan. Slated to open in 2026, the store will be located within a luxury residential building called The Ellery. The 25,000-square-foot outpost at the edge of the bustling Times Square area is smaller than most ALDI stores, given the site, but will be considered a flagship store for fast-growing ALDI U.S.
Source: progressivegrocer.com
Asian E-grocer Weee! celebrates 10th anniversary
Asian e-grocer Weee! is celebrating its 10-year anniversary, marking a decade of transforming how communities experience culture through food. Founded in 2015 and based in Fremont, California, Weee! delivers 100,000 locally sourced and hard-to-find goods from around the globe.
Source: progressivegrocer.com
US: Walmart raises FY26 guidance as Q2 revenue climbs 4.8% to $177.4bln
Walmart has posted a 4.8% increase in revenue to $177.4bln in the second quarter of fiscal year 2026 (FY26) as its global e-commerce sales grew 25%, driven by store-fulfilled pickup and delivery, and marketplace. US comparable sales rose 4.6%, led by robust growth in the grocery and health and wellness sectors. Operating income stood at $7.3bln, down 8.2% year-on-year (YoY), due to discrete legal and restructuring costs. However, the adjusted figure was up 0.4% due to strong sales and financial framework execution.
Source: retail-insight-network.com
US: Chipotle teams up with Zipline to test drone delivery
Chipotle is teaming up with drone delivery leader Zipline for a pilot of autonomous food delivery. Select customers in the greater Dallas area will have the option to use so-called Zipotle delivery through its early access program in the Zipline app.
Source: cnbc.com
UK supermarket Waitrose says boss James Bailey to step down
British supermarket group Waitrose said its boss James Bailey will quit the business at the end of next month. No reason was given by Waitrose for his abrupt departure, though Bailey said: "This feels like the right time to hand over the reins".
Source: reuters.com
Dino Polska reports double-digit revenue growth in first half
Dino Polska has reported a 14.8% year-on-year increase in revenue, to PLN 16.0bln (€3.76bln), in the first half of its financial year. The Polish retailer generated 41.4% of revenue from the sales of fresh products, particularly fruit and vegetables, bread, and fresh meat produced by the Agro-Rydzyna meat processing plant.
Source: esmmagazine.com
UK retailers say budget tax hikes risk hitting living standards
Britain's biggest retailers have written to finance minister Rachel Reeves to say that further tax increases in her upcoming budget could undermine the government's manifesto pledge to improve living standards. The letter was coordinated by the British Retail Consortium trade body and signed by 60 retail bosses, including those at Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda, Morrisons, Aldi, Lidl, John Lewis, JD Sports, Boots, Currys and Kingfisher.
Source: reuters.com
HelloFresh launches production facility for Factor in Verden (DE)
HelloFresh Group reported: "HelloFresh SE („HelloFresh") announced the launch of a new production site in Verden an der Aller for Factor, a direct-to-consumer (D2C) Ready-to-Eat (RTE) meal service. The site will serve as the central production hub for Factor's European markets as well as future markets. The opening of the Factor production site is an important step for the HelloFresh Group's strategy for the global expansion of the Ready-to-Eat (RTE) category. Production is scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2026".
Source: hellofreshgroup.com
China: Dingdong (Cayman) Limited announces second quarter 2025 financial results
Dingdong (Cayman) Limited ("Dingdong" or the "Company") announced its unaudited financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2025. Second quarter 2025 highlights: GMV for the second quarter of 2025 increased by 4.5% year over year to RMB6,499.4mln (US$907.3mln) from RMB6,218.7mln in the same quarter of 2024, positive year-on-year growth for six straight quarters. Net income for the second quarter of 2025 increased by 59.7% year over year to RMB107.2mln (US$15.0mln) from RMB67.1mln in the same quarter of 2024, the sixth consecutive quarter of profitability.
Source: prnewswire.com
Spain: New Lidl supermarket set to open in Costa Teguise
The German supermarket chain Lidl will officially open its new store in Costa Teguise this Friday, 22nd August. Lidl also continues to strengthen ties with local suppliers, working with nearly 100 Canarian producers. Last year, the company purchased around €100mln worth of goods from the islands, including tomatoes, bananas, potatoes, papaya, sweet potatoes from Lanzarote, as well as meat, fish, dairy, wines, snacks, and plants.
Source: canarianweekly.com
Asda launches new sustainable supply chain finance scheme for UK suppliers
Asda reported: "Asda has launched a new sustainability linked supply chain finance scheme with Lloyds, converting its existing programme to offer domestic suppliers preferential rates based on sustainability performance".
Source: corporate.asda.com
UK: Customers feeling raw after Tesco adds 25p to price of a meal deal
Tesco has put the price of its meal deal up by 25p, its third increase since 2022, as food prices across the UK continue to race higher. Some retailers have chosen to pass on the soaring costs of ingredients to consumers. Heatwaves and droughts in parts of Spain, Italy and Portugal, where the UK sources a lot of its fresh fruit and vegetables, have pushed up prices this summer, at a time when they would usually fall. Beef, orange juice, coffee and chocolate were among the worst-hit products.
Source: theguardian.com
Belgium: Organic market The Barn opens second store in Antwerp
On Saturday, August 23, The Barn will open a second Antwerp branch, on the bustling Driekoningenstraat in Berchem. The chain of indoor organic fresh food markets also already has seven branches in Brussels.
Source: retaildetail.eu
UK: Co-op Wholesale secures another forecourt supply deal
Co-op Wholesale is continuing its expansion in the forecourt convenience sector via a new partnership with Sewell on the go, an independent chain operating in Hull and East Yorkshire. Under a newly signed five-year agreement, Co-op Wholesale will become the full supply partner for Sewell on the go's 12 forecourt convenience stores.
Source: kamcity.com
Joybuy live in France, Germany coming soon
Following the United Kingdom, JD.com's Joybuy has launched in France. Other countries will follow soon, according to a statement from Ochama, which will be rebranded as Joybuy. "Ochama will officially cease operations on 23 August 2025".
Source: ecommercenews.eu
Oldest hypermarket in Europe to be demolished
Carrefour's hypermarket in Auderghem (Brussels) will be demolished to make way for a new mixed-use, residential and shopping project. It is one of the largest hypermarkets in the country and the oldest on the European continent, dating back to 1961.
Source: retaildetail.eu