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Amazon to invest more than EUR 5 billion in Poland


...This is in addition to the EUR 10 billion the company has already invested in the market between 2012 and 2025. Part of this investment will go into a new distribution centre. Poland has risen to 20th place in the ranking of the world's largest economies. E-commerce in Poland has also grown rapidly. According to the Polish Chamber of Commerce, online sales in the country reached EUR 21.5 billion in 2025, an increase of 6.8 per cent. Online sales are also expected to increase by around 7.1% this year... Poland is already one of the 20 largest economies in the world and Amazon intends to play an active role in strengthening this position," says Mariangela Marseglia, Vice President of Amazon European Stores.. Source

AmazonE-Commerce
 

n.716

Banana cultivation: a pesticide paradise


Banana plantations stretch across Ecuador, Costa Rica, Peru, the Philippines and Colombia: territories where the climate is perfect for growing the fruit... and pests. To protect the crops, pesticides and herbicides are used in quantities that a European farmer would not see in an entire career. All companies claim to follow 'sustainability' programmes, but the truth is that a banana at 1.49 €/kg cannot guarantee fair wages, cover ocean transports and ensure clean agriculture. Someone along the supply chain always pays the price: often the health of those who work... and those who consume Below: 1 some of the pesticides mentioned by 'Guess who's coming to dinner' (Rai3) were also found in organic bananas and are banned in the EU but enter it because there are no reciprocity clauses between South America and Europe. This problem could be changed by a proper implementation of the Mercosur treaty . 2 the label of the Esselunga Bio Ctm Altromercatobananas. Read also this article on Esselunga private label bananas and in the GD, in general. On pesticides you can read here. Compiled 10 December 2025, updated 19 March 2026

AgricultureEsselunga organicFruit and vegetablesMercosurPesticidesPrivate Label
 

n.713

How to go from the current 24% incidence of Carrefour’s retailer brands to 50% of GS Mdd in three years? Mastrolia (GS, formerly Carrefour) answers


Question: How is it possible to go from the current 24% incidence of Carrefour's retailer brands to 50% of GS Mdds in three years? Answer : To do this I think it is sufficient to look at international experiences and the standards achieved by several Northern European retailers. Those who have reached these standards are even accelerating the development of Mdds. That is what we also want to do. Let's be clear: today there is no difference in value between the products of Idm, Brand Industry, and those of Mdd, our products. It all depends on how you communicate them and how you bring them to life on the shelves. Question: Sure. But how do you go from 24% to 50%? Answer: It is a question of will, strategic and operational. In Italy many consumers are still keen on brands, on industrial brands. But if they were to compare them with Mdd they would realise that they are essentially equal, especially in quality... Then certainly, as both Luigi Rubinelli for private label and Mario Gasbarrino for 'big brands' argue, a selection should be made, with a more focused assortment. This was discussed on 18 March 2026 in Parma. On private brand shares in Europe read here. Below is a question on LinkedIN and my response to it. Published on 18 March, updated on 19 March 2026

CarrefourPrivate Label
 

n.712

Amazon launches one-hour delivery in US cities to challenge Walmart


The Seattle-based e-commerce giant said Tuesday that its 1-hour delivery option is available for more than 90,000 products, including essentials, toys and toilet paper, and will build on its existing same-day delivery network. The 60-minute delivery option was launched in major US metropolitan areas and smaller cities such as Boise, Idaho. The 3-hour delivery option has been launched in over 2,000 cities and towns. Perishable food products are available in selected areas, Amazon said. Reuters Amazon recently launched Amazon Now "in select areas" So there are three levels of delivery: 30 minutes, 1 hour and 3 hours

AmazonE-CommerceWalmart
 

n.711

Realco crisis, rescue proposal from Consorzio Europa and Dit


Realco crisis: we may be at a turning point, with the proposal made official on 16 March by Consorzio Europa and Dit averting the 'break-up' of the distribution group based in Reggio Emilia, with about 200 supermarkets under the Sigma, Ecu and Economy brand names, and now in composition with creditors, with several shops 'temporarily' closed. Included in the proposal is a third party in the large-scale distribution sector, whose name has not yet been communicated - there is talk of Migross - which would take over part of the network with a consequent change of sign... Read the previous

 

n.710

Carrefour: European growth and Brazil’s slowdown


The 2025 results show a clear dichotomy between the European and Latin American shores. In France, the operating margin reached 3.0%, confirming the effectiveness of the business model based on competitive pricing and the expansion of proximity formats. Spain also recorded a positive performance, with a jump in current operating profit of 13.5%, consolidating its role as a European pillar. In contrast, Brazil faced a challenging macroeconomic environment with interest rates at 15% that weighed on purchasing power, leading to a stable operating result at constant exchange rates but a 7.2% drop at current exchange rates. In Argentina, despite hyperinflation, the group managed to gain significant market share in both value and volume...

Carrefour
 

n.709

Amazon: suspected tax evasion


Amazon in Italy charges in Luxembourg for the products I buy. And it is not only me, an Amazon customer, who receives notifications from Amazon - the repetition is intentional - , which I enclose, a study carried out with theBicocca University says so. Note that not only the goods but also the Prime subscription is paid, to an ad hoc company, in Luxembourg (all this also applies to Amazon's marketplace = third-party suppliers). If you are not convinced that Amazon does not pay what it should to the Italian state, you can also read this article. Repubblica 13 March 2026

AmazonE-Commerce
 

n.708

Whole Foods Market to open six new Daily Shop shops in the UK in the coming months


The point-of-sale assortment will include : A range of certified organic and conventional products. Prepared food options, including lunchtime salads, sandwiches and seasonal favourites. An assortment of meat and seafood with a variety of convenient grab-and-go offerings. All meat items are certified for animal welfare and include organic options and all seafood offerings are sustainably caught in the wild or responsibly farmed. A bakery department offers fresh bread daily and everyday favourites such as Whole Foods' Viennoiserie and brown butter biscuits. The department also provides a wide variety of special diet items, including gluten- and dairy-free brownies, doughnuts and biscuits. A Wellness & Beauty department with a wide assortment of supplements, skin care, hair care and more. A speciality department highlighting artisan cheeses and producers, as well as local and premium beers, wines and spirits. The first Daily Shop experiment was made in 2024 in the United States. The pdv area will range from 300 to a maximum of 1,000 square metres.

Fruit and vegetablesMeatOrganicWhole Foods