n.503

Agriculture in Italy and Africa: we need clarity and transparency


let's talk about Coltivaritalia - €1 billion for Italian agriculture - and the Mattei Plan, €5.5 billion, Italian money, mentioned in several articles where Ettore Prandini, president of Coldiretti, talks about Mercosur : we agree with him on the safeguard clauses and the reciprocity of the rules, but we need, in the above-mentioned cases (Coltivaritalia and Mattei Plan), clarity and transparency on how our money will be spent, in Italy and in Africa.

AgricultureColdiretti
 

n.502

Carrefour strengthens its presence in Argentina with the acquisition of Super A


The transaction, the amount of which was not disclosed, concerns 16 shops that will become part of the Carrefour network as of September. The acquired branches will take on the Carrefour Express sign, after a process of adaptation of their image and services. In this way, the French company is accelerating the growth of the proximity format, which has become a pillar of its commercial strategy in recent years.

Carrefour
 

n.501

Walmart cuts the ribbon on the latest high-tech distribution centre


Walmart recently held the grand opening of its new 725,000 square foot perishable distribution centre in Lyman, South Carolina, the third of five new high-tech facilities designed to receive and process fresh produce, eggs, dairy, meat and frozen products for delivery. The new distribution centre, which uses advanced automation to process more than twice the volume of a traditional distribution centre, will serve 180 Walmart shops in the area and house over 600 Walmart employees...

MeatWalmart
 

n.500

Historic change: Supermarkets lead volume growth, overtaking Discounts


"From 2019 to 2023, their [the discounters'] turnover grew at an average annual rate of 9.3 per cent, compared to 5.7 per cent for the other operators"(we reported this here). Then there was aturnaround: the growth in volume of the hyper and super channel exceeded (2.5%) that of the discounters (1.3%) . E-commerce was very good at 8.4% (see first table below). Circana data show how, after 9.1% in 2023, value sales grew more slowly in 2024 ( 2.4%) to consolidate in 2025 with a further 3.7%. The significant novelty is that, unlike the previous two-year period, growth is no longer just an effect of prices, but is accompanied by a recovery in real demand: volumes, in fact, declining by 0.5% in 2023, turn positive in 2024 ( 1.8%) and accelerate in 2025 ( 2.3%). Supporting this rebalancing is also the dynamics of prices, which after a 9.5% surge in 2023, stop at 0.6% in 2024 and travel at 1.4% in 2025, returning to physiological levels. Below: one of the factors in the recovery of the Iper Super channel (in which there are also superstores) was probably the strength of the private label, which expressed convenience, and which is beating the leading brands (such as Barilla or Coca-Cola, to give examples, see the second table). A comparison between the different channels - hyper/super/superstore 'versus' discounters - on prices is unfortunately not possible to date. p.s.: looking at the ISTAT data, the drop in volumes highlighted a few days ago, seems to affect only small retailers, not the GD (page 3). Note that ISTAT has only been using barcodes since 2020 and that not all retailers use them. Compiled 7 September, updated 8 September 2025

BarillaCoca-ColaDiscountInflationPrivate LabelSuperstores
 

n.498

The most convenient supermarket and discount chains


As Food Fact rightly says , 'The most popular shopping in supermarkets and hypermarkets is mixed: In this category we have Famila and Famila Superstore (Selex) as the first insignia, followed by Coop, Conad, Panorama. Interspar, Esselunga Superstore Carrefour Market close the ranking. P.S.: I wonder how the signs in the category mentioned below that of Iper and Super - I am referring to 'mixed shopping' (discount) - can be compared since I understand that some signs do not have branded products but only private label products.

CarrefourConadCoopDiscountEsselungaMarketingPrivate LabelSuperstores
 

n.497

Falling alcohol consumption


Inflation is also a factor. Drafted 1 September, updated 3 September 2025 Yesterday - 2 September - ConstellationBrands🍺🥃 closed at -6.6% indicated that in 2026 it will have revenues from beer sales down 2-4% 1) the stock has lost 40% from its highs over the past 12 months 2) Constellation is one of the world's giants in beer, wine and spirits sales (source: Inglobando)

Inflation
 

n.492

ALDI conquers Manhattan


Drafted 23 August, updated 25 August 2025 The new shop near Times Square will open next year and will be 2,500 sqm. The discount chain has 2,500 outlets in the United States and already has outlets in the city (see photos below). The trend of discounters replacing supermarkets in city centres is confirmed: Lidl is opening in the centre of Milan(while Aldi has it surrounded). Confirmation on Italy can be found here. On the other hand, the Casino discounters in Paris have been in the centre for decades. Interesting: Aldi creates a Fan Club in the USA Compiled 25 August, updated 1 September 2025

AldiCasinoDiscountLidl