Morrisons invites shoppers to join management meetings in revival strategy, Ireland

Lidl has revealed the top-selling products in Ireland, with fruit and vegetables taking the lead during the month of January. Among these, cucumbers emerged as the number one seller, with over 490,000 cucumbers sold throughout the country. In Dublin, celery ranked first on Lidl customers’ shopping lists. These findings showcase the continued demand for fresh produce and healthy options among Irish shoppers. Lidl’s emphasis on providing affordable organic items aligns with the growing consumer interest in sustainable and healthy choices. With the price reduction of over 100 organic products, Lidl Switzerland aims to make organic options more accessible to a wider customer base. This move highlights Lidl’s commitment to offering affordable, quality products. Dutch retail turnover saw positive growth in December 2023, with a 4.2% increase compared to the previous year. The food segment experienced a 4.6% increase in turnover, while the non-food sector saw a growth of 2.6%. These figures reflect a positive trend in consumer spending in the Netherlands. In the UK, Morrisons is adopting a customer-centric approach to revive its business. The supermarket chain is inviting shoppers to management meetings and conducting customer roundtables in stores. By listening to customers and colleagues, the new CEO aims to gain insights that will guide the development of new plans for the company. The strategy includes price cutting and loyalty initiatives to attract cash-strapped shoppers and compete with discount rivals. Additionally, Morrisons’ profit has increased by 6.5% in the year to October 2023, supported by improved customer satisfaction scores and positive like-for-like sales growth over six consecutive quarters. Meanwhile, Portuguese retailer Continente has introduced new vegan meat and cheese alternatives exclusively available in its stores. Continente Food Lab has launched the Picado Carnal from Vegetarian Butcher and the Semi-Curados from Quevana. These products cater to the growing demand for plant-based options and reflect the retailer’s commitment to offering diverse choices to its customers. As the summer season winds down in Australia, there is an abundant supply of fruit and vegetables available. Figs are a highlight, with local and glasshouse varieties becoming more plentiful. The arrival of game-changing grapes, figs, and peak plums offers consumers a variety of fresh ingredients to enjoy. On the global front, German department store chain Galeria Karstadt Kaufhof is actively seeking investors as it navigates debt protection proceedings. The company has initiated its search for interested parties to submit bids. In the UK, Marks & Spencer has taken steps to reduce plastic waste by removing over 4 million units of plastic packaging from its cafes. The retailer has introduced recyclable paper packaging for its sandwich and toastie range. Additionally, M&S has expanded its menu to include more vegan and gluten-free options, catering to the changing dietary preferences of its customers. In the US, Walmart has announced plans to build or convert over 150 stores over the next five years. The retailer also plans to remodel 650 locations across 47 states. This investment reflects Walmart’s commitment to providing a diverse and modern shopping experience for its customers. Canadian grocer Metro anticipates an increase in orange juice prices due to the end of a supplier price freeze. As the blackout period for price hikes comes to an end, the company expects to face higher costs from suppliers, potentially affecting the prices of orange juice and other grocery items. Whole Foods Market is set to open a new store in St. Petersburg, Florida at the end of February. The store will offer a range of certified organic, conventional, and Sourced-for-Goal options, including organic greens from Lady Moon Farms. This expansion reflects Whole Foods’ commitment to providing customers with a diverse selection of high-quality and sustainable products. Meanwhile, Roland Foods, a specialty food provider based in New York, is exploring a potential sale that could value the company at $700 million or more. With its extensive range of imported foods, Roland serves clients in the food service, retail, and restaurant sectors. Costco Wholesale is opening a new business center in Anchorage, Alaska, catering to various businesses such as convenience stores, restaurants, and offices. The center offers a wide range of products, including fresh meat and produce, beverages, and restaurant supplies. GrubMarket, a food supply chain platform, has released an integration between GrubMarket AI and WholesaleWare, its software-as-a-service platform designed for wholesalers and distributors. This integration enhances the capabilities of WholesaleWare by incorporating artificial intelligence. Lastly, Aldi is set to open four new stores in different locations across the United States. These store openings highlight Aldi’s continued expansion and commitment to providing affordable groceries to customers across the country.