Discount Retail Chain Don Don Donki (owned by the TYO listed PPIH) largest Southeast Asia's store has opened at Malaysia’s Tropicana Garden Mall and the company says it plans a further 11 stores in the country during the next three years. The new Jonetz by Don Don Donki (as the brand trades in Malaysia) spans two stories and 42,243sqft on the ground floor of the shopping centre. It houses a selection of Japanese products together with new departments, CosmeDonki, Yatai Japanese food court, and a Halal section. The Yatai Japanese food stall was designed inspired by Japan’s Bullet Train, Shinkansen, featuring a range of Japanese foods, including baked sweet potatos and rice crackers. The Japanese cosmetics section, CosmeDonki, offers products exclusive to the retailer, while the Halal section offers Halal-certified products, including Halal Japan A5 Wagyu and Australian Black Angus beef. Operated by Pan Pacific Retail Management (PPRM) Malaysia, The Tropicana Garden Mall store is the second Jonetz by Don Don Donki store in the country. PPRM’s president, Satochi Machida, said the company plans to open 11 more Don Don Donki stores by 2024. The Japanese discount retail chain currently operates more than 680 stores globally. See here for more: https://insideretail.asia/2021/12/10/don-don-donki-opens-largest-southeast-asian-store-yet/#daily

Discount Retail Chain Lidl France (owned by the German Schwarz Group) has started construction on a supermarket made entirely from wood, alongside CBI, a subsidiary of VINCI Construction. Located in Épinal, in the Vosges department, the 'Bois de France' store is set to open in spring of next year and has been developed in response to the French government's recently-introduced Climat et Résilience legislation, which aims to achieve a 40% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in France by 2030. The choice of Épinal is a notable one, Lidl said in a statement, as it lies in the heart of France's timber production region. The store will be situated on the brownfield site of a former printing press. 'Innovative And More Responsible' "As a committed player in sustainable commercial real estate, Lidl is setting up an innovative and more responsible supermarket in the heart of the city of Épinal," commented Alexandre Baudart, manager of the construction department at Lidl France. He described the project as a "a new step in our partnership with CBI, which is producing our first supermarket prototype with 100% wood structure, thus indicating a joint desire to experiment with solutions in favour of the decarbonisation of the construction industry, and ecological transition." It's not the first eco-store project that Lidl France has embarked on – in 2020, the group opened a 'positive energy' store – namely a supermarket that produces more energy than it consumes – in Fenouillet, Occitanie. Timber Construction In developing the project, CBI, a longstanding partner of Lidl, will rely on the expertise of Arbonis, a subsidiary of VINCI Construction France specialising in timber construction. "The success of this operation lies in the common desire to imagine the construction of tomorrow," said Jérôme Marchal, agency director, CBI. "With the permanent trust of Lidl and on the strength of a relationship of almost ten years, we have worked on the construction materials and the technical solutions implemented to reduce the carbon footprint as much as possible." Lidl has been one of the best-performing grocers in France in recent months, according to Kantar data. See here for more: https://www.esmmagazine.com/retail/lidl-france-set-to-develop-store-made-entirely-of-wood-155849

Discount Variety Retail Chain Five Below's (listed NYSE: FIVE) net income hit 43 cents a share in the quarter, up from 36 cents a year earlier and beating the FactSet analyst consensus of 29 cents. Five Below shares rose Thursday after the retailer reported fiscal-third-quarter results that beat expectations For the quarter ended Oct. 30 net income at the Philadelphia company hit US$24.2 million, or 43 cents a share, up from US$20.4 million, or 36 cents a share, in the year-earlier quarter. The FactSet analyst consensus called for 29 cents in the latest quarter. Net sales soared 28% to US$608 million from the pandemic-affected US$477 million a year ago. The analyst consensus called for $564 million in the latest quarter. Comparable-store sales advanced 14.8% in the quarter against the FactSet estimate of 5.3% for the period. The stock recently traded near US$192, up 1.5%. The stock has traded on Thursday up as much as 8.9% at US$206.01. Chief Executive Joel Anderson said the results reflected the company's strong execution "in a challenging supply chain environment. … We opened 52 new stores across 24 states [and] have completed our 171 new openings for the year.” Morningstar analyst Zain Akbari was impressed with the numbers, though he assigns the company no moat. “Our $136 per share [fair] valuation of no-moat Five Below should rise by a mid- to high-single-digit percentage, after it announced third-quarter earnings above our expectations (15% comparable growth versus our 6% forecast). “We attribute the magnitude of the differential to pandemic-related volatility rather than a shift in Five Below’s long-term prospects. “So our long-term view (low-double-digit percentage annual revenue growth and low-teens adjusted operating margins from fiscal 2022-30, on average) remains intact. See here for more: https://www.thestreet.com/investing/five-below-stock-higher-earnings-above-expectations

Discount Retail Chain Aldi Suisse (German family owned) is launching a delivery service with the startup Annanow and is starting in Zurich for the first time. Not Lidl for the time being. At the beginning of the test phase, Aldi Now, as the delivery service is called, will be usable for the first time in the city of Zurich. In a further course, the test area should then be expanded, as Aldi writes in a message. A large selection of Aldi’s standard range should be available to order from Aldi Now. With the offer, Aldi wanted to create a meaningful link between the online shop and the stationary branches. “The products ordered are selected directly from the store and delivered from there. The delivery takes place on the same day ”, promises Jérôme Meyer, country manager of Aldi Suisse. Customers can order up to 14 days in advance and determine the delivery window themselves - Aldi delivers daily between 10 a.m. and 9 p.m. No delivery pass is required. Depending on the size of the shopping cart (the minimum order value is 50 francs), the delivery costs are between 4.90 (US$5.3) and 9.90 francs (US$9.7). Aldi does not charge a surcharge for delivery of the order on the same day. If you order by 11.30 a.m., you will receive delivery on the same day by 6 p.m. Lidl Switzerland: Follow, but not yet decide Lidl Switzerland does not want to (or not yet) follow the Aldi initiative, as they say at the headquarters in Weinfelden TG: “We currently neither run an online shop nor a delivery service. It goes without saying that we continuously monitor the market and follow new developments with great interest. " Online, however, is definitely an issue in the cross-border group: Certain online formats are being tested in various Lidl countries, you are in contact with your colleagues and follow developments with interest. A decision on how to proceed for Switzerland has not yet been made. See here for more: https://www.handelszeitung.ch/unternehmen/aldi-suisse-startet-mit-einem-lebensmittel-lieferdienst?xing_share=news

Discount Retail Chain Aldi UK (German family owned) cheekily took their mince pies to shoppers outside Fortnum and Mason to take part in a blind taste test. Aldi launches their most premium mince pies ever that are set to rival luxury brands. Aldi has launched their most premium mince pies ever in time for Christmas and they are set to rival other luxury brands offerings. The new Specially Selected Exquisite Mini Mince Pies are available in Aldi stores now and shoppers are convinced that they taste the same as the luxury equivalent from Fortnum and Mason. At just 29p per pie, shoppers can enjoy the budget supermarket's festive pies for 80% less than Fortnum & Mason’s Petit Fours Mince Pie Medley that are priced at £1.49 (US$2). Saying that Aldi's premium mince pies can rival a luxury brand may be fighting words, but the budget supermarket is popular for their own branded dupes of high end items. Not only are Aldi's Specially Selected Exquisite Mini Mince pies unbeatable on price, but also on taste as they were named ‘Best Traditional Mince Pie’ at the Quality Food Awards (QFA). To prove that their mince pies could rival the luxury brand, Aldi cheekily parked a Bentley and chauffeur outside the doors of luxury store Fortnum & Mason to offer shoppers a blind taste test. The budget supermarket's pies are 80% cheaper than their luxury rivals. Aldi said that shoppers who took part in the taste test were amazed to find that their mince pies 'taste just as good' as their luxury rival. Shopper Glen Afwireng, said: “Aldi’s mince pies are absolutely heaven! I genuinely couldn’t tell the difference between Aldi and Fortnum’s mince pies, so I was shocked to be told the price difference between the two. Fortnum and Mason shoppers were sneakily put to a taste test. Julie Ashfield, Managing Director of Buying at Aldi UK, says: “We know Fortnum customers like the finer things in life and we wanted to show you can get great quality at a fraction of the price by switching to Aldi.” The Specially Selected Exquisite Mini Mince Pies are the latest high end dupe from the budget supermarket that has shoppers obsessed. The budget supermarket has become quite infamous among shoppers for providing high end products for less on a range of products that includes skin care and beauty. Aldi's Specially Selected Exquisite Mini Mince Pies are available across Aldi stores now for shoppers looking to enjoy their festive treat for less. See here for more: https://www-dailyrecord-co-uk.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.dailyrecord.co.uk/lifestyle/food-drink/aldi-launches-premium-mince-pies-25611244.amp

Discount Retail Chain Aldi Luxembourg (German family owned) wants to develop the care of the store base on the basis of its last reopening in Dudelange, with an emphasis also on convenience products and meat. Offering a facelift to its first supermarket on the occasion of its 30 years of presence in Luxembourg, the symbolism is strong for Aldi and its point of sale in Dudelange, but it does not stop there: “This new concept is a development that will take place gradually over the next few months for all of our stores, ”announces Pierre-Alexandre Rocour, Managing Director of the banner, with a smile. The customer journey therefore begins with a fresh fruit and vegetable market, next to which prepared meals and other salads to take away (“chilled convenience”) take their place on the shelves just before a space dedicated to fresh meat. However, the Renmans butcher remains attached to this establishment, like all 17 Aldi in Luxembourg. “This is something that was discussed with Renmans”, assures our interlocutor for whom the offer is complementary: “With prepackaged meat, customers thus have an additional choice without necessarily having another passage at the checkout, all the world can find what it is there for ”. In the bakery department, Aldi claims three times more references than in Belgium, with an emphasis on Luxembourgish and also Portuguese specialties. Next come fresh products such as cold meats, including the Cobolux brand, then other Luxembourg suppliers are making their way on the shelves, such as Munhowen and Luxlait for example. In total, Aldi has 230 Luxembourg references out of the 1,700 items in its range. This covers 1,360 m2, twice as much as before the closure of the Dudelange store last August. Luxembourgish roots promoted “30 years ago the assortment was a cut and paste of what customers could find in Germany or Belgium. But for several years now, Aldi has had the firm desire to be a Luxembourg player in mass distribution, ”explains Pierre-Alexandre Rocour. “The number 1 in the market, Cactus, has a particular weight: it is the Luxembourg brand par excellence. For us, this represents an ideal not to be achieved but an ideal towards which we must strive”, says Pierre-Alexandre Rocour, Managing Director of Aldi in Luxembourg. He does not hide it, his main competitor is Lidl, a hard discounter turned smart discounter with a modernization of its range and its points of sale. “The number 1 in the market, Cactus, has a particular weight: it is the Luxembourg brand par excellence. For us, this represents an ideal not to be achieved but an ideal towards which we must strive, ”says our interlocutor. Aldi also has 10% of branded products, a formula decided to "evolve with the needs of the customers", in the same way as the local products. “Our DNA remains superior quality at low prices”. The brand has 17 stores in Luxembourg, and aims for one more by mid-2022 for the opening of Beggen. At the end of 2023 or the beginning of 2024, the Marnach store should move to a new shopping center next to the current point of sale. The chain with 180 employees does not consider the network complete with 18 locations: it says it is attentive to demographic changes in the country. "We have an objective of proximity: that every inhabitant in Luxembourg can have an Aldi within 15 to 20 minutes of driving from his home and, possibly, a store in the city center of Luxembourg". To the question of knowing when this potential implantation will become reality, time is for reflection. "To see if this goes from the possible to the achievable", concludes the Managing Director cautiously. See here for more: https://paperjam.lu/article/aldi-fait-peau-neuve-et-mise-s

Discount Retail Chain Bİm (listed on IST: BIMAS) Executive Board Member and CFO Haluk Dortluoglu: "The total power of GES in our Batman, Istanbul and Igdir warehouses was 2.23 MW. We do not plan to install on the roofs of a total of 14 warehouses." Bİm is making a name for itself with its rooftop solar power plant projects recently. We talked to Bİm Executive Board Member and CFO Haluk Dortluoglu about the details of the projects and the outputs obtained. Noting that they plan to build a solar power plant on the roofs of a total of 14 warehouses, Dorluoglu said that they aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Can you briefly talk about the establishment of your company and your activities in the sector? Bİm AS started its activities with 21 stores in 1995 with the aim of delivering basic food and consumer goods to the consumer at the most affordable price and highest quality possible. As the first representative of the high discount model in Turkey, Bİm limited its portfolio to about 800 products and offers a large number of private label products to its customers. Bİm, which is the leader of the retail sector in Turkey today, continues its activities with 9,303 stores throughout Turkey as of September 2021. Bİm has also increased the number of FİLE stores it offers to consumers to 153 with a new concept. Our company continues its development with effective cost management policy without giving up quality understanding and customer satisfaction priority. Acting with the vision of becoming an international company, Bİm continues to operate in Morocco and Egypt. As of September 2021, there are 574 Bİm stores in Morocco and 300 in Egypt. Can you evaluate it in terms of energy consumption in your sector? In which departments is the most energy consumed in storage areas? We have high consumption in lighting, heating, cooling, refrigerators, cold storages and machinery in our warehouses and stores. In terms of product freshness and the health of our customers, our refrigerators and cold storages operate 24/7 and have the highest share in terms of consumption. What kind of strategy are you pursuing regarding energy efficiency? Can you respond by evaluating areas from lighting to cooling system? We aim to mitigate the environmental impact in our operations to contribute to the fight against climate change, one of the most important global environmental challenges. In this context, we implement projects and applications that will increase energy efficiency. We invest in electricity generation from renewable energy. At the same time, we are working to increase resource efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in logistics activities. The majority of BİM's energy consumption is generated by the electricity consumption of stores. Improving energy efficiency in stores both reduces the company's environmental impact and saves financial money. Accordingly, as of 2020, we have renewed the store format and started to make significant improvements in energy saving and thermal insulation. In the new store model of Bİm, we used stone wool and high-insulation glasses to provide internal thermal insulation and switched to energy-saving LED lighting models in order to reduce energy consumption. As a result of these applications, an average of 25% heat and 10% electricity savings were achieved per store. In addition, automatic board switch application has been initiated for lighting and energy consuming instruments that will not be used at the end of the shift. We are also renovating existing stores with the stores we have just opened. We take measures to ensure energy efficiency in stores as well as warehouses. In the first stage, thermal insulation is provided by strengthening the exterior insulation of the buildings, applying the cladding façade/glass system. In addition, we have installed an energy scale monitoring system to measure electricity consumption in 14 warehouses. In this way, we take steps to increase energy efficiency and carry out optimization studies with regular monitoring of consumption. In 2020, energy density per square meter decreased by 4% compared to 2018 and was measured as 200.8 kWh/m². Bİm has initiated the project of installing solar power plants (GES) on the roofs of the regional warehouses in order to obtain electricity from renewable sources and 6.5 million TL has been invested in the project to date. Can you tell us about your rooftop solar power plant projects that you have recently implemented? In which areas did you set up a power plant? Will there be different projects you plan to establish in the new period? We invest in renewable energy to contribute to the fight against climate change, one of the most important global environmental problems. In 2020, batman, in 2021, we installed solar energy system in our warehouses in Arnavutköy and Igdir, Istanbul. In these 3 warehouses, we provide 100% of our energy consumption from GES. The total power of GES in our Batman, Istanbul and Igdir warehouses was 2.23 MW. With the solar energy system, which produces equivalent to the annual energy consumption of a thousand households, we have achieved a total annual reduction of 1,426 tons in carbon emissions, while gaining 30,000 trees. Installation is planned on the roofs of a total of 14 warehouses. In this way, we aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Can you tell us about your annual energy consumption? What percentage of your annual consumption do you produce with solar power plant? Our total electricity consumption in 2020 was 445,310,000 kWh. We have produced 429,000 kWh of energy in Batman Roof SPP, our first project that has completed a year. With the projects we plan to commission by the end of the year, we plan to produce 10,320,000 kWh of energy annually. This corresponds to 2% of our total consumption for now. Have you received support for the turnkey setup service of the project? How did your paths cross and what kind of project did you develop together? We had a research process before the project. A significant part of our research was in terms of material selection and determination of EPC companies. We have determined the companies according to the criteria that they have a considerable MW installation experience, which has been operating in the sector for many years. These companies were mainly found from fairs, conferences and energy sector platforms. Can you briefly mention the technical equipment and features you use in the project? How many panels were used? What criteria did you pay attention to in the selection of products? Our first project, Batman warehouse Roof GES, used a 275 W poly crystal panel and our next two projects, a 400W mono crystal panel in Arnavutköy and Igdir. A total of 5,910 panels were used in our three projects. In product selections, we evaluate current technologies, panel efficiencies and products that reach high installed power, which are used intensively in GES plants. One of our most important criteria for PV panels was that they reached at least 10 MW installed power. By participating in the production processes of the panels, we intervene at all stages of the process. We prefer internationally recognized high-tech products in inverter and construction, which are the other 2 important materials of GES projects. What is the investment cost of the project? How long do you aim for the project to pay for itself? We anticipate that our 3 projects will pay the investment cost within 4-5 years. With rising energy prices, we think these times will come back a little bit. What kind of method do you follow regarding Energy Monitoring? Can you tell us about your work? In our GES plants, we perform full-time monitoring via inverters. We are able to quickly respond to possible problems at the plant. We are working on systems that can be carried out from a single center with the number of plants that will increase in the future. What are your goals for sustainability? Can you tell us about your new term goals and projects? As the first representative of the high discount model in Turkey, Bİm is always committed to moving forward with its sustainability approach and to produce common value for its stakeholders. This philosophy of Bİm, which undertakes an important social mission with its "low price every day" policy, principle of reflecting the savings obtained from costs to product prices and lean business model, also reflects the basis of the sustainability approach. In our daily operations, we put the interests of our customers above short-term high profits and we take care of the interests of humanity and future generations in line with the understanding of sustainability. Bİm, which has kept its social responsibilities at the highest level since its establishment, defends its value and result-oriented sustainability approach and does not see sustainability as a marketing and advertising activity. We carry out our communication activities in this regard in order to contribute to social awareness. While adopting the sustainability strategy, we produce and implement strategies within the scope of the field of activity where we can use our concrete, impact-oriented, operational capabilities in the most efficient way. We aim to contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) taking into account our field of activity, business model and corporate culture. Within the scope of the business model; it makes high-quality products accessible, contributes to household purchasing power with its low price policy every day successfully implemented thanks to effective cost management, encourages responsible purchasing and production, and serves its customers at the closest points to be accessible. Bİm Sustainability Understanding explains the company's vision and focus on sustainability in line with its business model. I can state these things as follows; We set out to make high quality accessible to the community. With strict cost control management; Every day we carry quality products and services to all segments of society with our stores with low price policy, purchasing and operation power. We work to increase the happiness of customers with our innovative products. 1. BiM manages the value chain responsiously. We manage our operations efficiently and responsibly throughout the value chain. While promoting the development of our suppliers by adopting high standards, we aim to increase their competencies by investing in our employees, which is the most important link in the chain. 2. Biİm works with the goal of a livable environment. We care about the responsible use of natural resources for a livable environment. We focus on energy efficiency and invest in renewable energy to combat climate change. Within the scope of waste management, we aim to reduce packaging and food waste. As a result of sustainable packaging studies to date, we have prevented the annual consumption of 40 tons of plastic and 49 tons of paper. 3. Bİm provides sustainable growth with strong corporate governance. Within the scope of corporate governance, we take care of the interests of all our stakeholders together with our investors and aim to create value for them. Thanks to our strong corporate governance, it makes our financial performance sustainable; we adopt transparent and ethical business approach with effective risk management. See here for more: BİM PRODUCES ITS OWN ENERGY WITH GES PROJECTS (stendustri.com.tr)

Discount Retail Chain Lidl Polska (owned by the Schwarz Group) invites all its employees to take part in a great Lidl Plus promotional campaign, under which they will receive discount coupons with a total value of PLN 800 (US$200). Apart from employees, the Lidl campaign will also be attended by co-workers as well as people employed by some of the network's contractors. Additionally, over 21,000 Christmas packages will be handed over to the employees' children. Employees will redeem coupons using the Lidl Plus shopping application, which allows you to take advantage of the discount offer in the chain stores. Employees will be able to invite any person they choose to participate, including their relatives. Such a high total value of possible discounts is not accidental. the 800th Lidl Polska store will be opened. During this time, as many as 8 stores throughout Poland will be launched (Sędziszów Małopolski, Wodzisław Śląski, Janki, 2x Łódź, Nowa Dęba, Myślenice, Poznań). Also read: Auchan employs 529 disabled workers Lidl has also prepared packages for the youngest, i.e. all children of employees up to 13 years of age. Over the past 8 years, the network has released over 100,000 such packages, and this year, another 21,500 holiday packages will be handed over to employees' children. The company also decided to diversify the gifts, taking into account the age of the children. In this way, 4 types of packages were created, taking into account the different needs and preferences of children. The packages will include, among others toys for babies, sets for motor development, wooden toys, games and puzzles, and karaoke microphones. Older children can also expect sweets. See here for more: Lidl oferuje pracownikom na święta kupony rabatowe o wartości 800 zł - Detal (dlahandlu.pl)

Discount Retail Chain Lidl Denmark (owned by the German Schwarz Group) has announced that it plans to launch an online business from the start of 2023, which will offer a range of non-food items. The discounter made the announcement at the launch of a new high-bay warehouse at its facility in Køge Nord, around 35 kilometres south of Copenhagen, trade publication Dagligvarehandlen reported. Launch Of Online Business "At the beginning of 2023, we will launch our online business in Denmark, which will focus on non-food," Dagligvarehandlen quoted Lidl Denmark chief executive Jens Stratmann as saying. "It will be a great investment for the company and something that will differentiate us from our competitors." According to daily newspaper Børsen, the retailer's online offer will feature around 2,000 SKUs, plus as many as 10,000 seasonal items. It will offer home delivery services. Warehouse Capacity Expansion The launch of the warehouse extension in Køge means that the discounter has doubled its storage capacity in the Zealand region of Denmark, an area in which it plans to expand its store estate. "With our new high-bay warehouse, we have now secured the future of our warehousing capacity and logistics, which can support our plans to open approximately 60 new Lidl stores in the metropolitan area over the next number of years," Stratmann said in a press release. The expansion means that the warehouse is extended by 6,400 square metres, to cover a total of 46,400 square metres. It has a capacity of almost 19,000 pallets. The logistics centre in Køge handles all goods for Lidl's stores on Zealand and Bornholm. See here for more: Lidl Denmark To Sell Non-Food Products Online From 2023 | ESM Magazine

Discount Retail Chain B & M France (previously Babou) has reorganized its Supply Chain based on CHEP, adopting a system of sharing and reuse blue pallets. Exit lost pallets! After having been forced to store lost pallets in its warehouses for nearly three months, in the heart of pandemic, the decision was taken to pass on the recoverable pallet system. The distributor has, at the same time, reorganized its transport flow by adopting the RECOVERY manager (origin distribution) controlled by CHEP, in order to continue the optimization of its transport flows. Since August 2020, the collaboration has been launched and concerns 240,000 blue pallets 80x120cm. B & M was already CHEP customer besides. Less empty returns From the distributor platforms, CHEP delivered about 9 trucks per week on the two warehouses of B & M, located in Cournon d'Auvergne. From now on, after coming out the points of sale, empty trucks managed by B & M will load the empty Chep pallets on the platforms of the distributors to bring them back to the B & M warehouses. CHEP will ensure the recovery of pallets on the points of sale before returning them to its service centers, where they will be inspected, sorted, repaired. The extension of this RECOVERY Manager (Original Distribution) system will allow a significant drop of empty kilometer, and therefore CO2 emissions but also the transport budget. With 105 stores in France and more than 1,000 in Europe, B & M offers its customers a wide referencing of products. After only one year of collaboration, the distributor has already reduced its CO2 emissions by nearly 34 tonnes, spared 300 trees and avoided 25 tons of waste. See her for more: https://strategieslogistique.com/B-M-ex-Babou-mise-sur-les-palettes,11729

Discount Retail Chain Aldi Nord (German family owned) is introducing Relex for replenishment automation based on sales forecasts as well as shelf space optimisation. The discounter sees inventory optimisation as a central component of its modernisation, and is throwing out SAP’s F&R engine, which was introduced only a few years ago. By discounter standards, Aldi Nord’s plans to introduce electronic shelf price labels in all stores seems impressive. With GK as a strategic partner, Aldi Nord wants to bring all POS software into the cloud. Aldi Nord’s decision to go with Relex is another accolade for the Finnish solution provider, which is currently enjoying outstanding success, as the discounter has introduced SAP as its merchandise management system and already uses SAP’s F&R engine for automated replenishment. However, IT decision-makers in retail report that SAP no longer has sufficient focus on the special requirements of retail with its new, cross-industry AI modules for forecasting. Sinanudin Omerhodzic, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of the discounter, has now told Lebensmittel Zeitung, that Aldi Nord is introducing Relex. Lebensmittel Zeitung reports in detail on the IT reorganisation at Aldi Nord in today’s issue. There he says that with Relex, Aldi Nord is achieving “a completely new level of automation” in replenishment automation. A first pilot region in the Netherlands is already live with 80 stores, he said. GK is a strategic partner As The Retail Optimiser reported, Aldi Nord is planning to move its entire POS systems to Microsoft’s Azure Cloud, with GK as strategic solution provider. Omerhodzic recently praised GK in CIO Magazine as an important partner for the retailer’s IT modernisation. In total, Omerhodzic told Lebensmittel Zeitung, Aldi Nord is investing a three-digit million Euro sum in new technologies and introducing a dozen new systems. 750 employees currently work in the IT departments of Aldi Nord, and many more are being sought. Independent of Aldi Süd Omerhodzic emphasised to Lebensmittel Zeitung that Aldi Nord would continue to operate independently of Aldi Süd in IT. In fact, the two companies have chosen quite different system providers. However, the question of cooperation is obvious, since Aldi Nord and Aldi Süd are increasingly acting together in the merchandise business. It is therefore not surprising that both companies are currently with Ariba introducing the same purchasing system. Ariba is actually to be used for the procurement of merchandise as well, via the purchase of C-items. See here for more: https://retail-optimiser.de/en/aldi-nord-is-going-to-optimise-stocks-and-shelves-with-relex/

Discount Retail Chain Lidl France (owned by the German Schwarz Group) has according to a new Kantar study, gained 0.4 points of market share as retailers Aldi and Leclerc. "I am delighted!" Biero Michel, executive director of Lidl France, does not hide his joy. According to the latest Kantar study - Worldpanel panel 2021, which covers the month of October (4 to 31), the German discounter brand saw its market share 0.4 point increase to 7.2% of total industry in France. It doubles as Carrefour Market has stagnated at around 7.1%. A result of "historic for the symbol" according to Olivier Dauvers, specialist retail. But be careful excess satisfaction, top 5 concerns only the month of October. Over the year Carrefour Market continues to race ahead by 0.5 points to Lidl. While marking, the result was expected. "It did not fall from the chair," admits Michel Biero. Indeed the sign of fate a very positive year "with sales up 12 to 14% in 2020," says the director, "and 2021 takes the same path." Such increases would inevitably have an impact on market share. Olivier Dauvers the result is a "historic rocking" as the two competitors (Carrefour Market and Lidl) were far in terms of market share a few years ago: "5 years ago, for example, the gap between two stores was 2.5 points!". However this catch is partly due to a "park" effect. "Lidl is expanding its current portfolio. Not so with new stores, but strongly expanding existing ones", which mathematically leads to a higher number of customers and therefore did gain market share. Conversely "Carrefour Market has reduced its fleet by 10%," illustrates Olivier Dauvers. Auchan and Casino losers This renewal is both the strength and weakness of the discounter. A weakness because it means that the benefits do not evolve at the same rate as sales. But a force as this park effect should impact on sales growth "for two to three years at least," according to Olivier Dauvers. Indeed, the discounter has not finished expand these stores, "between a quarter and a third still to be renovated," he explains. The latter therefore see Lidl continue to grow rapidly and make par with Carrefour Market and even exceed it, "mechanically we know that Lidl will be 10% market share in 5 or 6 years." Another German discounter also happens to pull out of the game. Aldi sees a rise in market share equivalent to that of Lidl, although its weight in France is measured (2.7%). Here also a park effect comes into play according to Kantar: Aldi France acquired 545 stores Leader Price Casino there a year ago. An increase in market share was therefore expected. Finally the E.Leclerc Group sees a similar progression and remains undisputed market leader with 22.2% market share. Inevitably everyone can come out as a winner. The two main losers are Auchan and Casino. For the first is explained by exposure of the sign on the large hypermarkets. A segment that has more on the rise for several years. For the second, the fall comes from the sale of shops (its discounter stores: Leader Price) to Aldi. See here for more: https://www.lefigaro.fr/societes/distribution-lidl-double-carrefour-market-sur-le-mois-d-octobre-et-integre-le-top-5-des-enseignes-en-france-20211122