Aldi has concluded a 20-year agreement with an apple grower in the UK. While the farm has been supplying the discounter with apples for eight years, in the new deal it is becoming Aldi’s sole provider of UK apples.

The long-term arrangement gives the farmer an opportunity to invest in new orchards across the country in the coming years. For Aldi, after Tesco the second biggest seller of apples in the UK, it guarantees a steady supply of a mix of homegrown Gala and Braeburn apples.

A twenty-year contract is considered a game-changer in the sector, long-term agreements are rare and would never span more than six years.

We’ve reported before how Lidl set up its own shipping company, Tailwind, a few years ago, much to the distress of the container ship industry, and viewed with skepticism by other retailers because of the high costs.

While the discounter started with three ships it has been expanding the fleet, with nine ships now in operation, some owned, some chartered, and more being added. It demonstrates Lidl’s ambition and trust in securing its own supply chains.

The ships sail between three ports in China, a port in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, and three ports in Europe: Barcelona, Koper (Slovenia) and Moerdijk (Netherlands). From the European ports, the goods are transported by truck, but mainly and preferably, by train and inland waterway vessels to their various destinations.

Have you seen soup in bags, sauces in cardboard, or beans in packs in your supermarket? In Scandinavia, known to be a trendsetter in more environmentally friendly packaging, the trend is ubiquitous.

The canned department has long remained the same, and it is not the most outspoken in the supermarket. Some think it is a rather dull, old-fashioned section. But there is a movement that seems to play into making the department more attractive, addressing a younger public.

Several companies are making a move towards changing the packaging of conserves into cardboard. This has a lower CO2 footprint and requires less gas in production. In addition to these advantages, there are also lower transport costs, and the new packs require less space in the stores.

After a delay of over a year, Carrefour’s Brazilian chain Atacadão is arriving in France. The Carrefour franchise will open on 20 June in Aulnay-sous-Bois. The Atacadão chain is interesting because it is a true hard discounter, with no-frills stores and products on pallets sold at knock-down prices, between 10 and 15% less than in other supermarkets.

The first store in France measures an area of 10,000 square meters and will carry up to 15,000 SKUs. It targets both professionals and end consumers. Carrefour had to overcome objections from municipalities and other players in the field that stalled the launch in France, announced some one and a half years ago.

In Brazil, the chain counts no fewer than 250 stores and is immensely popular among consumers. The retailer says that in France, it wants to adapt the format to the more sophisticated French clientele. Amongst others, there will be more emphasis on fresh products and a special organic department.
 

PLMA International in Amsterdam has launched an online survey of European member manufacturers and retailers. 

Consisting of about 30 multi-part questions, the survey is available in multiple languages and is being conducted for PLMA International by SurveyLab.

Topics include the relationship between manufacturers and retailers, the influence of today’s environmental and societal requirements on the supply chain, product innovation and development and factors contributing to the growth of private label throughout Europe.