Germany's largest supermarket group Edeka and rival Rewe, on Friday, agreed a deal to take over the loss-making Kaiser's chain, potentially ending years of uncertainty over the future of the group. The two companies will send a purchase contract to the German Economy Ministry, which needs to approve the deal, in the course of the day, they said. The deal also requires approval by the German cartel office. Edeka agreed two years ago to buy Kaiser's, which employs 15,000, from the Tengelmann group, but the takeover was blocked by Germany's antitrust regulator in 2015. (Reuters)Ireland: 20 new Aldi stores to open in €100m expansion plan
Discount retail giant Aldi is to open 20 new stores nationwide over the next three years. The €100 million investment looks set to create 400 new jobs. Aldi has 11.3% of Ireland's intensely competitive grocery market, according to the latest figures from researchers Kantar Worldpanel. It's the fifth largest supermarket - 0.1 percentage points behind rival Lidl. (newstalk.com) Sweden's ICA Gruppen Exits Norwegian Market
Swedish retailer ICA Gruppen announced Friday that it is selling its Norwegian real estate firm ICA Eiengom Norge AS for €224m to a Norwegian real estate fund. The deal includes 58 properties in the northern country, and the sale is expected to close in February of 2017. (esmmagazine.com)'Walmart's new concept could become a major threat to Amazon and Kroger'
Walmart is opening a new kind of gas station that offers more than just coffee, snacks, and fuel. The convenience stores, called Walmart Pickup and Fuel, also offer same-day pickup for groceries ordered online. There are only two locations right now — one in Huntsville, Alabama and the other in Thornton, Colorado — but if expanded, they could make Walmart an even bigger threat to companies like Amazon and Kroger that are betting big on the growth of online grocery shopping, businessinsider.com writes. (businessinsider.com) US: Meijer names Keyes CEO
Meijer Inc. announced Friday that President Rick Keyes would also take on the role of CEO, with current CEO Hank Meijer moving to executive chairman of the Meijer board, effective Jan. 1, 2017. Keyes, who ascended to the position of president last year following the departure of J.K. Symancyk, joined the Grand Rapids, Mich.-based retailer 27 years ago as a pharmacist. (supermarketnews.com)UK: Aldi named Supermarket of the Year for babies
Discount supermarket Aldi was named Supermarket of the Year for the second year running by the most prestigious parenting and toddler awards, The Mother & Baby Awards 2017. (internationalsupermarketnews.com)French supermarket launches online in more Chinese cities
Carrefour China has launched its ecommerce website and mobile app in two more cities in China, just in time for holiday celebrations. The website (Carrefour.cn) and a mobile app were first launched in Beijing in April and are now covering 5 more cities in China including Shanghai, Wuxi and Suzhou in the east and Chengdu and Kunming in the west. Carrefour China plans to extend the service to more cities such as Wuhan by the end of the year. (igd.com)India: BigBasket's organic produce grows 35%
With people becoming comfortable buying even fruit and vegetables online, BigBasket today said it has seen 300% growth in revenue in the past one year and expects to cross the Rs 2,000 crore-milestone by the fiscal-end. With four million registered customers, the Bengaluru-based firm expects to become profitable by March 2018. BigBasket sources 60% of its fresh produce sales directly from farmers. Direct sourcing has increased margins by 6-7%. BigBasket is focused on growing its organic produce and private labels and is expecting to see this business grow to 40% by next year from 35% at present. Click here to read more at indianexpress.com. Iceland hits back at Icelandic government
The supermarket Iceland claims that the Icelandic government is "not willing to hold any serious discussion" to reach agreement in a trademark dispute. The country has launched legal action against the chain, claiming it prevents the nation's firms from describing their products as Icelandic. (BBC)K-Market expands in Vietnam with Vingroup
K&K, the owner of K-Market supermarket is planning to expand in Vietnam by opening stores at VinGroup’s commercial centres. The company plans to reach 100 supermarkets by 2020, and eyes a turnover of more than US$100 million in 2017. (igd.com)
Couche-Tard weathered some challenges in Q2Please, click here to read the aritcle.
Canadian grocer Sobeys' debt priced as junkPlease, click here to read the aritcle.