While Germany's Aldi is on a roll in the UK, its competitors don't stay idle. Sainsbury's trials to double down on beauty, Poundworld plans to launch a discount format, and Planet Organic is set to expand. American retailer Giant Eagle is in an acquisition mood, and Starbucks builds a coffee shop with recycled shipping containers. We like it when the industry gets creative. Enjoy the read!
While Germany's Aldi is on a roll in the UK, its competitors don't stay idle. Sainsbury's trials to double down on beauty, Poundworld plans to launch a discount format, and Planet Organic is set to expand. American retailer Giant Eagle is in an acquisition mood, and Starbucks builds a coffee shop with recycled shipping containers. We like it when the industry gets creative. Enjoy the read!
Europe
On the rise ▪Aldi has confirmed it will open 130 new stores in Britain over the next two years, creating 5,000 new jobs. The announcement comes after the German discounter revealed sales were up 16.4% in the UK and Ireland to a record GBP 10.2 billion in 2017, pushing its share of the grocery market to 7.6%.
Offloading debt ▪ French retail group Casino has agreed to sell some property assets, mainly connected to its Monoprix supermarket arm, for EUR 565 million to reduce debt levels that have worried investors. The company recently hit the headlines after it said it had rejected a tie-up approach from market leader Carrefour.
Convenient acquisition ▪ Pittsburgh-based grocer Giant Eagle plans to acquire the Ricker's chain, which operates 56 convenience stores and fuel stations in Indiana, where the former runs 6 outlets under the GetGo banner. Both companies are family-owned. Financial terms of the deal weren't disclosed.
Dinner sorted ▪Kroger has rolled out its quick-prepare meals menu to more than 350 stores across multiple banners. The 'Easy For You'-range will be introduced in more cities and markets. The supermarket operator has reportedly boosted its investment in delivery firm Ocado and plans to build 20 distribution hubs (paywall) in the next years.
Container café ▪ American coffee chain Starbucks has opened a store built from 29 recycled shipping containers, located in eastern Taiwan. The exterior design was created by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, who was reportedly inspired by the foliage of coffee trees combined with the traditional Chinese bucket arch.
Electronics platform ▪ Kenyan retail chain Tuskys is set to invest in the development of 'shop in shop' electronics stores at its hypermarkets in Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu. They will be offering a variety of premium consumer electronic products and provide a purpose designed platform for interaction.
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