The State of Fresh Foods 2025: Driving Sales and Operational Innovation to Satisfy Consumer Preferences
FMI - The Food Industry Association released The State of Fresh Foods 2025 report, which demonstrates continued growth in the fresh foods space. The report explores the strident momentum of fresh food products in 2024 and provides an optimistic look at the role the department plays in the advancement of food retail establishments in the coming years.
Source: fmi.org
Canada: Metro reports growth slowdown in Q3
Canadian grocery retailer Metro said its pace of sales growth slowed in the third quarter, as consumers gravitated to promotions and private labels. Sales for the third quarter were up 3.3%, to about $6.87bln (about $5bln U.S.), driven in part by food same-store sales gains of 1.9%. In the second fiscal quarter that ended March 15, Metro had reported sales growth of 5.5%, and food same-store sales growth of 3.9%, when adjusted for a Christmas week shift.
Source: supermarketnews.com
Walmart expands grocery discount for 1.6mln employees as tariffs renew inflation concerns
Walmart said it will offer a 10% employee discount on nearly all groceries. The employee discount previously applied to fresh produce and most general merchandise, such as clothing and toys. The company's decision comes as tariffs drive up consumers' worries about higher prices.
Source: cnbc.com
US: Amazon adds perishable foods to same-day delivery to take on Instacart, Walmart
Subscribers to Amazon.com's Prime service can now get strawberries, milk, meats and frozen dinners on the same day they order them as the company expands its fast-delivery option to perishable food items, Amazon said. It is the latest move by Amazon to compete with delivery services offered by Walmart+ and Instacart.
Source: reuters.com
US: City-owned grocery store Sun Fresh Market in Kansas City shutters
Sun Fresh Market on Linwood Boulevard in Kansas City, Missouri, which received millions of dollars from taxpayers, is now closed. The grocery store, which received about $29mln in taxpayer funding, closed on Tuesday, according to multiple reports. The location was having problems stocking its shelves with fresh product for months. The city owns the building, and Mayor Quinton Lucas said the hope is another retailer will be found soon.
Source: supermarketnews.com
Brazil's GPA narrows losses, reviews expansion strategy
Brazilian retailer Grupo Pão de Açúcar (GPA) reported a loss of R$216mln (€33.7mln) in the second quarter of its financial year. However, this performance marked a 35% improvement compared to the same period last year. Revenue rose by 4.2% year-over-year, to R$4.6bln (€719mln), with the digital channel contributing 13% of the total and registering a 16.3% increase.
Source: esmmagazine.com
Germany: HelloFresh SE's efficiency program drives strong Q2 2025 results, paving the way for renewed customer focus
HelloFresh Group reported: "HelloFresh SE ("HelloFresh") achieved strong results in the second quarter of 2025 and highlights material efficiency gains and a renewed focus on the customer experience. In Q2 2025, revenue of the HelloFresh Group reached €1.7bln, representing a (9.5)% year-over-year reduction on a constant currency basis (Q2 2024: €1.9bln). This was a direct result of continued marketing discipline, with a focus on acquiring less but higher quality customers. Q2 2025 adjusted EBITDA ("AEBITDA") grew by 8.2% to €158.5mln (Q2 2024: €146.4mln), corresponding to a 9.3% margin, while adjusted EBIT ("AEBIT" excl. impairment) saw a robust growth of 20.8% to €101.4mln (Q2 2024: €84.0mln), a 6.0% margin".
Source: hellofreshgroup.com
ALDI Australia is named Australia's best-rated supermarket for the EIGHTH consecutive year!
ALDI Australia reported: "ALDI Australia has been crowned once again Australia's best-rated Supermarket with the highest number of satisfied customers nationwide, according to the Canstar Blue's 2025 Most Satisfied Customers Awards".
Source: aldiunpacked.com.au
How Keells is improving Sri Lanka's quality of life one basket at a time
Nilusha Fernando, Head of Marketing, Keells Supermarkets & Senior Vice President of John Keells Holdings PLC: "Since we opened our first store in 1991, Keells has grown into a much-loved and trusted household name and has kept pace with the constantly changing needs of our consumers. Today, we are a growing supermarket chain comprising a 139-outlet network, supported by 9 vegetable and fruit collection centres and changed the look and feel of the Keells brand while also resetting the brand so that our core purpose of 'improving the quality of life for the nation' became the driving force and foundation for Keells to stand tall as a 'proudly Sri Lankan' brand".
Source: economynext.com
Hungary: SPAR opens supermarket in Szombathely after €2.5mln investment
SPAR Hungary has launched a supermarket in Szombathely after investing over €2.5mln. Key features of the SPAR Supermarket are fresh fruit and vegetables, bread and pastries baked instore, and convenient ready-to-eat products. In addition to the fresh meat and deli counters, self-service fridges offer chilled ready-made meals, while heated display units feature a large selection of grilled and breaded meats, vegetarian dishes, and side options for takeaway.
Source: spar-international.com
Burger King penalized for forced sales of cleaning products, tomatoes
BKR, the operator of Burger King's Korean business, was slapped with 300mln won ($220,000) fine for forcing its franchisees to purchase specific cleaning products and tomatoes from designated suppliers, the Fair Trade Commission (FTC) said.
Source: koreatimes.co.kr
RTG International joins European buying alliance Concordis as founding partner
German purchasing alliance RTG International is joining new European buying alliance Concordis as a founding partner. RTG International will be responsible for price negotiations with Concordis suppliers for several German retailers, including Rossmann, Globus, Bünting, Netto and Tegut, among others. At a later stage, Carrefour, Coopérative U and RTG International intend to welcome additional partners, as they seek to build one of the top European buying alliances.
Source: esmmagazine.com
China: Pagoda sells a lemon in trying to 'educate' consumers on the value of pricier fruit
When Shenzhen Pagoda Industrial Corp, the first fruit retailer listed on the Hong Kong stock exchange, went online last week to "educate" consumers to adopt more "mature" thinking in their attitude toward pricing, the strategy backfired. Instead of becoming more mature, netizens became angry. The online "education" entailed a video released last Friday, in which company founder and chairman Yu Huiyong explained his theories on how to get along with consumers, saying "ignorant" customers may fail to appreciate Pagoda's claim of low-priced fruit.
Source: citynewsservice.cn