SWL's Retail Radar - 11/06/24

Retail Radar, from SWL, provides you with a snapshot of the latest retail news from the UK and around the globe. These narratives highlight key events, emerging trends, and notable advancements, providing a deep dive into the dynamic retail landscape.

Greggs plans to open a new warehouse for frozen goods and logistics in Derby

Greggs is set to construct a new frozen production and logistics hub in Derby, Derbyshire, aiming to bolster its goal of over 3,000 stores nationwide.

The 23-acre facility at SmartParc SEGRO Derby will generate up to 600 jobs and is expected to be fully operational by 2026. This custom-built centre will enhance the manufacturing capacity for various products, introducing new sweet and savoury production lines, alongside logistics for frozen storage.

Partnering with logistics automation firm Swisslog , Greggs will implement a fully automated robotic system for shop order picking and distribution.

The food chain stated that the centre will also have room for future investments, supporting category growth, innovation, and development, with the potential to add new production lines to meet demand.

The site will feature an onsite shared Energy Centre, recycling heat from refrigeration plants, a rainwater harvesting system, PV panels, EV charging points, and secure bike storage to reduce local emissions.

Greggs chief executive Roisin Currie commented: “We are delighted to announce our new state-of-the-art facility at SmartParc SEGRO Derby. This purpose-built site offers significant flexibility to add new capabilities and lines as our business evolves. This is a significant step in our supply chain investment and will provide much-needed manufacturing and logistics support to power our ambitious growth plans.”

Jubilant Foodworks aims to expand Domino’s presence in India by doubling its number of outlets

Jubilant FoodWorks Ltd. , which operates the Domino's franchise in India, intends to double the number of Domino's stores nationwide over the medium term, even as the quick service restaurant (QSR) sector experiences sluggish demand.

The company reported positive like-for-like growth in the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2024, crediting its success to an enhanced value proposition and initiatives like free delivery.

As reported by The Hindu Businessline, Jubilant plans to increase the number of Domino's outlets to 4,000 by 2029, opening around 200 stores annually.

This growth strategy includes significant investments in back-end commissaries to support both dine-in and delivery services.

This expansion news comes alongside the opening of the 2,000th Domino's outlet in Gurugram, Haryana, marking India as the first market outside the US to reach such a milestone in store numbers.

Maxi Zoo increases its presence in the Netherlands with 70 additional stores

Maxi Zoo is set to introduce 70 new stores in the Netherlands this summer, rebranding the recently acquired Maxi Zoo Nederland stores to its own international name.

Last year, German group Fressnapf Holding SE acquired the Dutch pet store chain Jumper. Initially, these stores continued under the Jumper name, but that is about to change as ‘all existing Jumper shops will be renamed to Maxi Zoo before the end of July’, a spokesperson told Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf .

This rebranding effort includes 50 standalone shops and 17 shop-in-shop outlets within garden centres and DIY stores. Additionally, Maxi Zoo, a leading player in the European market, will open two new locations, one in Maastricht on June 5th and another in Coevorden on June 19th.

Currently, Maxi Zoo is the second-largest pet store chain in the Netherlands, following Pets Place, but it aims to become the market leader. The group is also pursuing rapid expansion in Belgium to achieve market leadership with Maxi Zoo. Fressnapf now operates in fourteen European countries with 2,000 stores and a turnover of 3.5 billion euros.

Digital shelf labels are set to be implemented in 2,300 Walmart stores by 2026

沃尔玛 is embarking on a major shift by phasing out traditional paper shelf labels in favour of digital shelf labels (DSLs) in 2,300 of its stores by 2026. The decision stems from a successful trial conducted at Walmart’s Store 266 in Grapevine, Texas, US.

This transition to DSLs promises to transform the way pricing updates are handled in stores, resulting in faster processes and an elevated customer experience.

With each of Walmart’s 120,000 items coming with price tags, the retailer manages thousands of pricing changes weekly, covering new items, rollbacks, and markdowns.

By embracing DSLs, developed by VusionGroup , this enables Walmart to swiftly make price adjustments through a mobile app, eliminating the laborious task of manually replacing paper tags.

This innovative technology is anticipated to enhance productivity by drastically reducing the time associates spend on price updates, slashing the process from potentially two days to mere minutes.

White Stuff enters the US market with plans to double its wholesale business

White Stuff , the lifestyle fashion brand, is set to make its debut in the US this summer, as part of its global expansion strategy, particularly focusing on strengthening its wholesale arm.

Customers in seven US states (Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Minnesota) will soon have access to White Stuff’s women’s clothing line through select wholesale partners.

Approximately 18 small and medium-sized independent retailers across the US will showcase White Stuff’s designs as the brand explores new markets and learns from the experience. Depending on the outcome, White Stuff may expand its offerings to include menswear and explore opportunities with major US department stores.

This expansion follows a successful trial in Michigan and Illinois, marking the brand’s commitment to international growth.

Currently, wholesale contributes about 8% to White Stuff’s total sales, with existing partnerships across the UK, Ireland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Czech Republic, Greece, Canada, and New Zealand. The company aims to double its wholesale business in the next four years.

Jo Jenkins , CEO of White Stuff, expressed optimism about the US market, highlighting the brand’s distinct British identity and belief in the appeal of its quality designs to American customers. She also emphasised the role of wholesale in expanding White Stuff into a globally recognised fashion and lifestyle brand.

Couche-Tard and Too Good To Go broaden their efforts to combat food waste

Couche-Tard , the convenience retail giant, and Too Good To Go , a social impact enterprise, have broadened their collaborative effort against food waste across North America and Europe.

The initiative targets the inclusion of over 9,000 Circle K and Couche-Tard outlets in the US, Canada, Ireland, and Poland on the Too Good To Go app by the conclusion of 2024.

Stores in these regions will gradually integrate into the Too Good To Go Marketplace, with implementation phased by geographic Business Unit throughout the year.

Ina Strand , Couche-Tard's Chief People Officer and leader of sustainability efforts, stated: “As we expand and refine our food offering globally, minimising food waste is a priority for us – and the right thing to do both economically and environmentally. This partnership with Too Good To Go is a great complement to our continuous improvement efforts in our foodservice operations. Not only does it bolster our global sustainability commitments, but it’s also an innovative way for our customers to try our delicious food at a great price.”

The collaboration between Too Good To Go and Couche-Tard commenced in 2018 in Norway and has since expanded to include Denmark, Sweden, and select markets in the US, Canada, and Poland.

KOSé launches its first stand-alone store in the US, located in Los Angeles, CA

Japanese beauty brand KOSé Corporation has unveiled its debut stand-alone store in the US, introducing Maison KOSé to Los Angeles shoppers at The Shops at Santa Anita.

This innovative space combines retail with cutting-edge technology, entertainment, education, and community engagement, offering a holistic experience.

Operated by KOSé America, the store aims to celebrate the essence of Japanese beauty, known as J-Beauty, through its products, hospitality, and services.

Maison KOSé presents an array of Japanese beauty brands, including DECORTé and SEKKISEI, showcasing star products like the DECORTé Liposome Advanced Repair Serum, a serum with 117 beauty awards and hailed as Japan's top selling serum.

Beauty consultants stand ready to offer personalised solutions and beauty rituals, enriching the customer journey.

Interactive activities, a gift personalisation service allowing custom text printing, and a dedicated space honouring KOSé's global ambassador, Shohei Ohtani, a baseball player for the Los Angeles Dodgers, enhance the store's appeal. This specially curated area invites visitors to engage with Shohei Ohtani through captivating displays and visual merchandising.

According to KOSé Corporation, Maison KOSé serves as a hub for inspiration, entertainment, learning, and discovering personalised beauty rituals, making it a one-of-a-kind shopping destination for beauty enthusiasts seeking the epitome of Japanese beauty.

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