Top 7 grocery retail stories from around the world
ShelfLife’s pick of the week’s top global industry stories from around the world, focusing on grocery retail
Print27 April 2026
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) Carrefour sees steady spending despite Iran war
Carrefour says consumer behaviour remained stable in March despite the outbreak of the Iran war, with no major shifts in shopping patterns, according to MarketScreener.
The retailer’s CFO said the conflict has not significantly impacted demand, with only limited inflation expected across key markets.
2) REWE tops €100bn as revenue milestone hit
REWE Group has passed the €100 billion revenue mark for the first time in 2025, despite difficult trading conditions across Europe.
The retailer said growth was driven by its diversified business model, even as earnings were impacted by higher costs and ongoing investment.
3) Waitrose expands into Heathrow Airport retail
Waitrose is set to open four stores at Heathrow Terminal 2, marking its first move into airport retail through a new partnership model.
The rollout will bring its food-to-go range to high-traffic travel locations for the first time.
4) Sainsbury’s flags Iran war cost pressure outlook
Sainsbury’s said its full-year results were shaped by higher costs and weaker consumer confidence linked to the ongoing Iran war, which is disrupting markets.
The retailer warned the conflict could continue to weigh on profits and spending power across the year.
5) UK inflation rises as fuel costs climb sharply
UK inflation has increased again, driven by higher fuel and energy prices linked to ongoing global conflict pressures.
The latest figures highlight continued cost-of-living strain across the UK economy.
6) Karlsberg Brauerei sees revenue dip in H1
Karlsberg Brauerei reported a slight decline in first-half revenue and earnings as weaker beer volumes and exports weighed on performance.
The brewer said market share grew and non-alcoholic products performed strongly, but rising costs and a challenging market led to a downgraded full-year outlook.
7) Salling Seeds makes first scale-up investment
Salling Seeds has made its first investment, backing Danish AI scale-up Enterspeed to enhance data integration and retail systems.
The move forms part of Salling Group’s wider innovation strategy, with the fund targeting tech, retail and sustainability ventures.
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