Top 7 grocery retail stories from around the world
Print22 December 2025
From retail tech moves to brand shake-ups, supply chain shifts, and in-store innovation, this week’s round-up spotlights the key developments reshaping the grocery industry worldwide.
Whether it’s a strategic pivot by a major retailer or a breakthrough in how food gets from shelf to shopper, these are the stories you can’t afford to miss.
1/ Hahn Gruppe acquires six Edeka supermarkets
Germany’s Hahn Gruppe has recently purchased six Edeka supermarkets across Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, Saxony, and Thuringia for a new institutional fund, CRE Media Europe reported.
2/ Billa exits Czech online grocery
Billa, one of the Czech Republic’s largest supermarket chains, has recently announced it will close its e-shop at the end of January 2026, citing financial losses and greater efficiency through courier partnerships.
The decision affects online orders in Prague, Brno, and surrounding areas, where the e-shop currently serves around 1.5 million households, expatz.cz reported.
3/ Gruppo Sogegross names new general manager
Italian grocery group Gruppo Sogegross has recently appointed Luca Gattiglia as general manager in Italy to support its multi-year expansion strategy, according to Grocery Trade News.
The move forms part of a wider organisational reorganisation aimed at strengthening competitiveness while maintaining family leadership continuity.
4/ Swiss Retail Federation names successor
The Swiss Retail Federation has announced in Switzerland that deputy director Patrick Erny will succeed Dagmar Jenni as director from 1 March 2026, following a planned leadership transition.
The move ensures continuity for the umbrella retail body as Jenni steps aside after a decade leading the association.
5/ WH Smith reports flat 2026 profit
Britain’s WH Smith PLC expects its 2026 profit to remain largely unchanged from 2025, as the company reviews some North American businesses following accounting issues in its US operations, according to News.Az.
6/ Naked Wines forecasts top-end EBITDA
Naked Wines PLC (LON:WINE) recently announced that its adjusted EBITDA for fiscal year 2026 is expected to be towards the top end of its published guidance.
The wine retailer attributed this performance to successful peak trading across all markets and a disciplined approach to costs, including general and administrative expenses, cost of goods sold, and acquisition investment.
7/ Italy’s Christmas sweets drive retail pressure
Italy is heading into its most expensive Christmas season in years, with sharp price increases across traditional festive sweets exposing wider pressure on food producers, retailers, and household budgets, Grocery Trade News reports.
Data from the Consumer Training and Research Centre (CRC) shows that the average price of industrially produced pandoro and panettone is now 42% higher than in 2021, while chocolate-based Christmas products have risen by an average of 89%.
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