The technology now exists to provide a data-encrypted bar code on a produce label slightly larger than the traditional price look-up (PLU) size. The miniature bar code, called a GS1 DataBar (formerly RSS, or Reduced Space Symbology), can store more information than a universal product code (UPC) but on a label the size of about one inch, evolving produce check-out from a manual weighing and coding process to a scannable, automatic process. Apart from solving problems in the grocery industry, where there had previously been no machine-readable marking or inadequate information encoded, the GS1 DataBar barcode is also able include expiration dates of produce--a welcome feature.
Analysts at JP Morgan stated that that the economic downturn in the US is expected to have a negative impact on Ahold’s US operations, and has downgraded the company from "overweight" to "neutral," while also reducing their estimates for the company. The target price has been reduced from €10 to €9.
Internet coupons are of increasing interest to US consumers, according to a recent analysis by consumer and media measurement firm Scarborough Research. 11% of households currently obtain coupons via the Internet, an 83% increase since 2005.
The Co-operative Group has agreed to purchase UK grocery retailer Somerfield for £1.565bn (€ 1.97 bn) ending months of speculation about who would buy Britain's seventh largest grocery chain.
The Belgium-based Delhaize Group has now projected its net income for 2008 will increase by 15 to 20%, down from a previous forecast of 25 to 30%. Annual sales growth is predicted to be between 3 and 4.5%, less than its previous forecast of 4 to 5.5%.The retailer cites...
Woolworths, and fellow retailer Foodstuffs Ltd, are currently awaiting the outcome of a New Zealand court appeal process to determine if either company will be allowed to make an offer for The Warehouse.
The German retail giant, Rewe, struck a deal in March to buy the 146 Tengelmann's Plus stores in the Czech Republic to merge the chain with its own discount business, Penny; but the acquisition will now face a domestic anti-trust investigation as the European Commission has agreed to allow the Czech Competition Authority to rule on the takeover.
