Europe news & analysis

Czech Republic-based Rohlik.cz has raised €190m (US$230m) in a financing round. It plans to use the funding to expand its footprint in its existing markets as well as expanding into new ones. Revenue +101% in FY2020 Rohlik.cz was founded in 2015, delivering to cities in Czech Republic. The retailer’s full year revenues increased by 101% in 2020 to €300m. Rohlik.cz offers a range of 17,000 p...

Earlier this year, we outlined five global trends that will shape the convenience channel this year and beyond. Below are some case studies to show how sustainability and health are rising up the agenda. Taiwan: increasing healthier options Well-known Taiwanese brand I-Mei is promoting new products at FamilyMart, emphasising local origin, quality and no preservatives added. While Famil...

Auchan said in its 2020 financial year confirmed its ‘ successful turnaround ’ and the ‘ success of the Renaissance operational excellence programme as it reported its EBITDA rose 27% to €1.63 bn. However, the improvement in its profitability came despite Auchan Retail’s revenue falling 5.2% to €31.626 bn, although it remained stable, contracting by only 0.2%, in like-for-like terms. Flat rev...

As Carrefour in Belgium and Poland enhances its online offer and makes a new appointment in Romania, we round up news from the retailer. Carrefour Belgium to collaborate with Deliveroo… In Belgium, Carrefour is to work with Deliveroo to enable shoppers to get delivery of groceries to their homes in less than 30 minutes. The companies have said the service will be rolled out initially in Bru...

Kaufland has re-entered the online channel following the acquisition of Real's marketplace , instead of creating its own one. The retailer’s return to the online channel looks to establish its presence for the long term, building on Real’s existing success. This should help Kaufland differentiate this initiative, from its previous entry and exit from the channel in 2017, wh...

Amazon has launched a full online store in the market, offering customers access to more than 100 million products. Products across 30 categories Amazon has operated in Poland since 2014, with nine logistics centres across the country. However, customers have previously had to order products via the retailer’s international websites, such as Germany, raising costs. On Amazon.pl, customer...

Amazon has launched a grocery store format in the UK operating under the Amazon Fresh banner. The 2,500 sq ft store is located in Ealing, London. Amazon Fresh is the first convenience grocery store to offer Amazon’s Just Walk Out Technology, used in its US ‘Go’ format, outside of the US. Amazon plans to rollout the concept by opening additional stores in the Greater London area. Amazon ha...

Operations have started at Ocado’s new mini-Customer Fulfilment Centre (CFC) in Bristol, with capacity for over 30,000 orders per week. Boosting capacity The new CFC is a quarter of the size of Ocado’s Erith CFC at 150,000 sq ft. It has the capacity for more than 30,000 orders per week. Ocado said the Bristol CFC will open up more capacity for new and existing customers across the country. ...

As Auchan looks to roll out further Pedestrian Drives in France, joins the Euromadi buying alliance in Portugal and announces plans to eliminate 55m plastic food trays used for meat and seafood products, we round up news from the retailer. Auchan discusses outlook for Pedestrian Drives in France In an interview in ZDNet, Auchan banner director for its Drives in France, Pascal Damien, looked...

Retailer alliance EMD has announced it will, from now, require its private label suppliers to adhere to its sourcing code of conduct. EMD committed to Responsibility and Sustainable Sourcing EMD said its sourcing code of conduct sets out 12 sustainability criteria, which are based on the Sustainable Supply Chain Initiative of the Consumer Goods Forum. EMD noted that private label suppliers ...