Europe

Movers and shakers ▪ Czech investor Daniel Kretinsky is rumoured to be planning a potential bid for Germany’s Metro, causing the wholesaler’s shares to soar by 6%. In France, supermarket retailer Casino has agreed to sell six stores to rival Leclerc for EUR 100.5 million.

Privacy advocates ▪ An Austrian privacy campaign group have lodged complaints against eight tech firms including Amazon, Apple and Netflix accusing them of failing to comply with the European Union’s 2018 data regulations. Meanwhile, Apple CEO Tim Cook has released an op-ed in Time Magazine calling for laws to allow consumers to delete their personal data.

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Chasing online ▪ Global consumer giants Unilever and Nestlé plan to increase new customer online subscriptions and automated deliveries of goods. The approach aims to provide a stable revenue stream and will see Nestle expand its pet food subscription service to continental Europe and Unilever offering “personalised” skincare by subscription in America.

Green innovations ▪ German discounters are making headlines with their commitment to sustainable practice. Lidl Ireland has promised to sell 100% sustainably sourced fish by the end of 2019 and Netto Marken-Discount is launching its own-brand meat range with a focus on animal welfare.

United States

Stalemate resolved ▪ Walmart and CVS Health have settled their spat over the cost of prescriptions. The agreement will see the discounter remain with CVS’s prescription network for customers who have health insurance and Medicaid.

Big bidding ▪ Rumours are rife that Nutella’s Ferrero, Hostess Brands and B&G Foods have made first-round bids on Kellogg’s Keebler, Famous Amos cookies and fruit snack businesses. The alleged deal could value the brands at more than USD 1.5 billion.

Youth market ▪ Amazon has unveiled a new app that allows teenagers between 13-17 to buy online. “Amazon for Teens” will give minors their own personal accounts, but will link them to their parents’ profiles who have ultimate approval over purchases.

Asia & Australasia

Market domination ▪ Alibaba and Tencent are dominating China’s new economy deals as the market fell to the lowest level in three years due to tightened restrictions. In Italy, dairy products company Centrale del Latte d’Italia has strengthened its ties with the Chinese powerhouse and will sell its products through retail chains Hema and RT-Mart.

Celebrating victory ▪ Coca-Cola has secured a contract to provide 285 Australian Pizza Hut restaurants with soft drinks, juice and water. It is the first time in 50 years that Coke will be served at the restaurants as the chain was previously owned by Pepsico.

Strange but true

Wannabe ethical ▪ British pop icons the Spice Girls have drawn attention to the importance of researching your supply chain, as they face an embarrassing and public revelation that the T-shirts they sold to raise money for Comic Relief’s “gender justice” campaign were made in a Bangladesh factory where women are underpaid and treated poorly.

Popular pop-up ▪ Netflix has launched a pop-up store in England to promote its choose-your-own-adventure psychological thriller show Black Mirror: Bandersnatch. Although not open to the public, fans have been drawn to the windowfront to grab a peek at the sci-fi show’s memorabilia.