Lidl has presented its new store identity in Finland – switching colors from blue to grey, introducing wider corridors and re-located departments but also improved facilities for the staff. The new look from spring 2016 onwards is based on deep consumer surveys. ”People prefer to visit the grocery store without a feeling of congestion,” says Country Manager Lauri Sipponen . […]
Archive | Groceries
Dagrofa’s expanding private label: ”We have a winner”
Dagrofa thanks its Gestus brand for a strong growth in sales of private label products. With Gestus as a spearhead sales of its own brands grew by 10 percent in 2015 . ”The great consumer interest for Gestus series stresses that we have a winner with a food brand that puts quality and taste of everyday life for a […]
Kesko must sell 60 stores to competitors
The Finnish Competition and Consumer Authority has granted Kesko permission to acquire Suomen Lähikauppa, but with an obligation to sell 60 stores to competitors. (more…)
ICA’s Easter sales boosted Q1
ICA’s sales the first quarter of 2016 improved with strong March- and Easter-sales, reaching 5.1 percent. Hypermarkets continue to be the strongest performer in the Group. (more…)
Coop converts SuperBrugsen to new smaller city concept
SuperBrugsen has just begun the refurbishment and conversion of three stores in Copenhagen into a new concept, the new supermarket-convenience-brand Brugsen will open at the end of the month. (more…)
Dansk Supermarked to invest billions in expansion and refurbishing
Dansk Supermarked Group (Danish Supermarket Group) will annually invest 2 billion DKK in the construction of new stores, refurbishment of existing and further development of the company’s e-commerce platforms. In 2016 more than a billion will be invested in Denmark. This was announced with the annual result in European top class. (more…)
Coop to double sales of organic food in two weeks
Coop Danmark is working hard to double the sales of organic food before 2020. Now t’s going to try to do it in two weeks. All1,200 stores are participating and some of them will completely remove non-organic food from the shelves with milk, eggs, fruits and vegetables. (more…)
Stockholm social supermarket is looking for new premises
Social supermarket Matmissionen is now looking for new premises after the fire in the premises, in Rågsved in southern Stockholm. (more…)
Dagrofa sends back 1.5 million to the producers
Dagrofa campaign “Choose Danish – you buy, we give”, has sent more than 1.5 million DKK back to producers in Danish agriculture. (more…)
Large volume increase in February’s retail sales
The Finnish retail sales grew by 2.3 per cent year-on-year in February. Especially the grocery trade boosted the numbers by a 4.1 percent increase in volume. (more…)
Netto to open more 24/7-stores
Netto Denmark increases the number of stores that never close. Now two stores open in North Zealand. (more…)
Despite weaker currency – border trade boosted again
The border trade does not suffer from a weaker Norwegian currency. In Charlottenberg the retail trade has so far this year increased by over 20 percent. “When the Norwegian krone is weakened imported goods gets more expensive in Norway. Norwegian traders have raised prices a lot, especially on food, “says Lars Erik Eröy, center manager […]
Alko to start online sales of all alcoholic beverages
The Finnish state-owned alcohol monopoly-chain Alko will start e-commerce this year. The aim is to offer the full range. “Our customers can use our services precisely in those channels where they want. By bringing our full range for purchase, we can better serve our customers, “says Alko’s business manager Paula Kujansivu. (more…)
Billion profit for the Swedish cooperative federation after sell-outs
The Swedish Cooperative Federation, KF, reports a profit after tax of just over one billion SEK for 2015. ”It is gratifying that we can now show such good results of the hard work that has taken place in the unions, in the subsidiaries and KF,” says Tommy Ohlström, CEO of KF. (more…)
Stockholm social supermarket destroyed in fire
Sweden’s first social supermarket, located in Rågsved south of Stockholm, caught fire Wednesday morning and could not be saved. (more…)
New Competition Authority director to investigate information flow between chains in Norway
The new Director of the Norwegian Competition Authority, Lars Sørgard, want new, small scale challengers in the Norwegian consumables market. Together with industry minister Monica Mæland he will investigate the barriers to entry that exist in the Norwegian grocery market and what can be done with these. (more…)
Kesko to reform all K-citymarkets
K-citymarket’s Finnish comprehensive reform has started, all the stores are to be renewed after the local customers wishes by the end of 2018. “The K-citymarket chain reform are utilized by a new way of customer feedback and store-specific customer information. The aim is to make each one of 81 store look unique to its customer base , two K-citymarkets won’t […]
Kesko grew on all areas
Kesko Group’s sales in February 2016 totalled 656.8 million EUR. In comparable terms excluding Anttila, sales increased by 5.6 percent in local currencies. “In February, Kesko’s sales increased in all strategic growth areas: the grocery trade, the building and home improvement trade, and the car trade,” says Kesko’s President and CEO Mikko Helander. (more…)
Irma-director leaves his position
After almost four years as chain director of Irma, Jesper Uggerhøj has chosen to leave his position. April 1 he takes the position as Managing Director of Kopenhagen Fur. (more…)
Kiwi makes Kiwi+ official
Danish KIWI is now rolling out the extra large discount stores. The offensive kicks off with the launch of the name KIWI + and with the opening of the fifth bigger store, this time in Frederikshavn. (more…)
Hotel Chocolate will learn from Denmark how to succed globally
Denmark is the local training ground for Hotel Chocolat – before global expansion. “Our plan is to use Denmark, which is a close by smallish market with lots of good local chocolate. And after the UK it has the most frequent online shopping people,” founder Angus Thirlwell said on Wednesday. (more…)
Lidl to trial extended opening hours for Easter
With new legislations, Lidl experiments with the opening hours in Finland. For Easter, the chain will have more extended opening hours than ever. (more…)
Odd Reitan: ”We’re having fun”
Reitangruppen is more solid than ever. Total turnover in 2015 was 85.6 billion NOK, an increase of 4 billion from 2014. ”Thanks to talented people with strong values and aspirations we have never been better prepared for the future,” says Colonial Major Odd Reitan. (more…)
ICA Maxi grew 7.6% in February
February was a strong month for Sweden’s largest grocery player, ICA. Three out of four chain formats increased over five percent, like for like. (more…)
Coop’s historical turnaround
Coop Sweden has turned all minus to plus and reports a profit for 2015 – a historic achievement according to the company. “It shows that the strategic comprehensive approach we have taken on all our operations provide powerful performance and we are even ahead of schedule in many areas,” says Sonat Burman-Olsson, President and CEO […]
Boom for pet food home deliveries
Home delivery of food growing in Norway. Now even the pets will get the same service. Two start-ups are focusing on delivering animal food to people’s doors. (more…)
Myyrmanni to get a new S-market
The upgrade of the Myyrmanni shopping center is ready to be presented. A new S-market, a modernized restaurant and café offering and new establishments from Jysk and Seppälä are the news. (more…)
Ica to open health care clinics at hypermarkets
Ica goes for more qualified health care in connection with its hypermarkets This is done by ICA’s pharmacy chain Apotek Hjärtat opening Minute Clinics. Three trials are now permanent and three new will be established. “The big advantage is that we simplify for customers. You can check your birthmark at the same time you buy milk, “says ICA’s CEO Per […]
Coop to re-paint all stores to earth brown
Coop changes the color of their Swedish Konsum-stores. As many as possible will get a brown facade. (more…)
ABC petrol stations launches unique app-payment
S-Group launches a world unique solution for the ABC-stations in Finland. Car drivers will be able to pay for a refill of fuel through their phones – without leaving the car. (more…)
Paradiset’s second store is a pop-up
The new grocery chain Paradiset’s second store in central Stockholm will be temporary. Landlord Pembroke Real Estate will have a selection of tenants filling the premises at the intersection Mäster Samuelsgatan and Regeringsgatan waiting for a decision on how to develop the property. (more…)
Reitan a top career employer in Sweden
Reitan Convenience Sweden with the brands Pressbyrån and 7-Eleven, has been named one of Sweden’s most attractive employer. It’s mainly the company’s internal training program that allows for further development and the company’s recruitment process that has resulted in a rich diversity of operations. (more…)
Bilka Tilst to re-open with American burger concept
The American burger chain concept Carl’s Jr is expanding inside Dansk Supermarked. Soon, the residents of Aarhus will have a bite of it when a restaurant opens in Bilka Tilst for summer. (more…)
S Group’s price campaigns increase operating result
The S Group’s two-year strategy of strict cost control, the grocery trade, the increased number of customers and the consumer goods trade are the main factors behind 2015 operating result improving from the previous year. With the large price campaigns in Finland the sales volumes increased and the S Group’s grocery developed better than the market overall. But the […]
Orkla to close down half of all factories
It’s not just the chips factory in Åland that is in danger. Orkla wants to half the number of its 104 factories. (more…)
Paradiset ready to open next store
The organic grocery store of the year, Paradiset in Stockholm, will now open more stores. The new chain has signed contracts for premises in central Stockholm, writes Fri Köpenskap. (more…)
Danish discount growth pace is decreasing
(more…)
Private label increase kills Rema 1000’s growth
Rema 1000’s focus on their own brands interferes with the targeted speed of growth. Sales and market shares have been standing still over the past year, according to recent figures from Nielsen. (more…)
Consumer electronics profile to join the Axfood board
Swedish food giant Axfood has found the replacer to Odd Reitan in the Board: Siba and Netonnet-owner and profile Fabian Bengtsson. As a new Chairman, the Nominating Committee proposes the CEO of majority owner Axel Johnson, Mia Brunell Livfors (more…)
Kesko joins ICA for international home and specialty goods sourcing
Kesko partners up with Swedish ICA’s international ICA Global Sourcing (IGS) in international purchasing for Kesko’s home and speciality goods trade, to an extent of which is unprecedented in the history of Kesko. The strategy is to achieve a more diverse selection of home and speciality goods available at K-food stores. The key objective of the sourcing cooperation mainly from […]
Kesko to extend bread deliveries to Sundays
Finland’s largest bakery companies Vaasa and Fazer start delivering fresh-baked bread to grocery stores on Sundays. Sunday has so far been the only day when the shops do not have bread delivered, and only some of the K-citymarket hypermarkets have own bakeries in operation on Sundays. The background of the Sunday delivery is the release of opening hours, which has increased the […]
He is the new CEO of Lidl Sweden
Lidl Sweden switches CEO, Johannes Fieber succeeds Conor Boyle. (more…)
ICA increased sales by 3.1%
Sales in the Swedish ICA stores rose by 3.1 percent in January 2016 compared with the corresponding month last year. Sales in like-for-like stores increased by 2.3 percent. ICA’s hypermarket concept Maxi continues to gain market shares – mostly within ICA’s own group – with a 4.1 percent increase. Kvantum performed best like for like. January 2016 […]
Arla to switch management team and fire 500 people
The Nordic, farmers’ owned, dairy giant Arla is today announcing great structural changes to its organisation, a new executive management team and a new structure resulting in that 500 roles will disappear across its markets. (more…)
Strong finish of 2015 for Axfood
Axfood ended 2015 with an impressive 8.1 percent sales increase compared to Q4 in 2014. And a total increase of sales by 7.2 percent in 2015. ”Superb sales growth gave higher market shares and good profitability,” says Prtesident and CEO Anders Strålman. (more…)
Swedish convenience stores’ sales and confidence on top
Convenience index from the Swedish Convenience & Fast Food shows that sales, measured in comparable units and in current prices, rose 3.7 percent in the fourth quarter of 2015. Traders’ future confidence is now at 54 percentage points, indicating the start of 2016 also will be good. (more…)
He will pay back 650 million to his customers
Coop Norway will return 670 million NOK to its members this year. ”It is always very nice to work in Coop when profits are shared and members receive their buy dividends paid back. Members are our best customers. They own us, and each one has contributed to that we this year again can pay out a solid buy […]
”An Orkla closure would be a disaster for our society”
Nordic food giant Orkla has caused great concern in Åland – by initiating negotiations with all workers in Åland where the chips factory is of great importance for business. The reason is that Orkla has several chips factories with comparable technology and wants to analyze the structure of the company. “It would be a disaster for the […]
Kiwi the biggest loser as 75 Norwegian in-store post offices change operators
Norway Post has signed 845 new agreements with Post i butikk/In-store post offices. 75 of them means a change of operating stores. A majority of them are switching location from Kiwi. (more…)
Kesko increased profit 2015
Kesko’s net sales last year were 8,679 million EUR, excluding Anttila they remained at the level of the previous year. Sales of groceries suffered from declining prices. ”We can be satisfied when we take account of the continued weak trend in the purchasing power of the main market area in Finland, says President and CEO Mikko Helander. […]