Food
The corona crisis is shaking things up in European food retail: from an online boom to severe staff shortages, the same phenomena are popping up everywhere. An overview of the international state of affairs in food retail at this moment.
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The lockdown in France also affects farmers and growers: French distributors have now vowed to stimulate local fresh food products, through advertising or even by adjusting their offer.
Belgian supermarket chains Delhaize and Colruyt are joining forces in order to supply hospital staff with grocery deliveries, which will be free of charge. They invite competitors to join the scheme and widen its scope.
A remarkable alliance in these remarkable times: Aldi and McDonald's have agreed the discounter can take over staff from restaurants the fastfood chain had to close due to measures to stop the spread of the new coronavirus.
Normally, Belgian 'healthy fast food chain' Foodmaker, was to open five new restaurants in the upcoming months. Due to the corona crisis, however, those plans are falling apart and the company must first of all try to survive now.
Aldi Nord and Aldi Süd are working on the previously announced standardisation of their private brands. By the end of this year, most of the assortment will be modified.
Discounter Aldi has responded promptly to British market leader Tesco, who launched a price offensive last week: "We had a plan to price match Tesco but we didn’t want to put thousands of prices up."
Amazon is going to sell its cashless store technology to other retailers. To this end, the American e-commerce giant has already established a new division.
Frits van Eerd, CEO of Dutch supermarket chain Jumbo, wants to expand into Wallonia - and from there, France. New markets can be conquered if a chain offers premium experience at discount prices, he says.
Discounter Lidl is banning Danone products from its French shelves after a discussion about price transparency. The ban on eight references of the Danette and Activia brands enters into effect on 15 May.
The delisting conflict between Agecore and Coca-Cola is over in France (its products are back in Intermarché stores after what the chain calls a "balanced agreement"), but continues at Belgian Colruyt.
British supermarket chain Tesco will lower the prices of hundreds of products to the level of Aldi's prices, and emphasise that with "Aldi Price Match" signs in the shelves.
Fast growing Russian food retailer VkusVill is opening a first store in the Netherlands. A French branch is planned as well, as part a worldwide expansion that may also include China and Belgium.
German wholesaler Metro has been approached by American catering multinational Sysco about a takeover. The Americans want to buy Metro in order to continue their European expansion.
Fabienne Bryskère has been appointed new CEO of Belgian distribution group Mestdagh. She succeeds Guillaume Beuscart, who left the company earlier this year.
American doughnut chain Dunkin’ has concrete plans to expand to Belgium, but which city will get the first Belgian store is not yet sure. Current plans point to Antwerp's Central Station area, but Brussels may yet steal first place.
