Convenience news

The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated existing trends and channel shifts across Europe. Lockdown measures implemented in most countries have had an immediate impact on grocery retailing. In the first European Channel Forecasts Webinar IGD experts will look at these developments alongside three key channel trends to help you with business planning in the short to long term. Here are some ...

CJ Express Group is boosting its footprint to 1,500 stores, up from 530 stores it is currently operating. Three-year expansion before listing Founded in 2005 by Mr Sathien, CJ Express operates mainly convenience stores and some supermarkets in the central and the western provinces. The retailer plans to have 580 stores by the end of the year. "The retail business is not as easy as expected...

Reitangruppen, which operates the discount banner REMA 1000 in Norway and Denmark, as well as a variety of convenience banners in the Nordics and Baltics, is rebranding, restructuring and exploring listing on the stock market. We consider this and how a listing may help fuel the retailer's growth ambitions. Its REMA 1000 banner is the fastest growing discounter in Denmark, while it remains the ...

The largest convenience chain in the world, 7-Eleven, is set to enter Israel. An initial target of 250 stores Local media, including Israel News, reports that apparel retailer Fox and electronics and appliance retailer Electra have received franchise rights to operate 7-Eleven stores in Israel. They will sign a memorandum of understanding to operate 7-Eleven as 50-50 joint venture partners....

Leading UK convenience retailer Co-op is partnering with Shrewsbury-based delivery specialist Zoom! 1HR to extend its online grocery ordering service to many smaller towns across both Wales and the English counties of Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Shropshire.  Initially launching through 55 stores this month, the partnership is planned to be extended to some 200 more Co-op sites during 2021. ...

Sainsbury’s has opened two new Neighbourhood Hub format stores as it begins to deliver against its new strategy of put food back at the heart of its business, as outlined to delegates at this week’s IGD Sainsbury’s Trade Briefing. 18 stores planned The new style stores, located in Bishop’s Waltham, close to Sainsbury’s Hedge End superstore in Hampshire and Midhurst, Sussex are designed to...

WH Smith has reported a headline loss in its full year results, but pointed to improving trading prior to the current lockdown and new opportunities as markets recover. In the year to August 31 st the group reported a headline loss of £69m. This contrasted with a profit of £155m for the previous year, as a strong first half performance was followed by the extreme challenges of the pandemic. ...

Monthly data updates from the three largest convenience chains in the world, 7-Eleven, FamilyMart and Lawson, focusing on sales, customer footfall and average customer spend in Japan.  FamilyMart post positive monthly all store sales, but only due to new stores For October, FamilyMart posted positive monthly all store sales for the first time this fiscal year. However, this was due to the r...

Convenience Retail Asia, a subsidiary of Li & Fung, has agreed to sell its Circle K convenience store business in Hong Kong to Canadian retailer Couche-Tard for HKD2,790m (US$360m). Significant change in Hong Kong CRA’s Circle K HK trades a network of Circle K-licensed convenience stores, with 340 company-operated sites in Hong Kong and 33 franchised sites in Macau. Circle K is the second l...

Data revealed in the Sainsbury’s interim results announcement (28 weeks to 19 September) indicates that sales growth in its 800+ convenience stores was significantly suppressed over the six-month period, with a decline of 8% overall.  This is very much at odds with other operators in the channel, many of whom have seen growth up in double digits over the pandemic episode. Wide disparity in per...