Edeka’s new price guarantee intensifies competition and supplier pressure

Edeka is relaunching its Gut & Günstig entry-level private label with a new ‘Price Guarantee - Always the Lowest Price Locally’ seal to reinforce its value credentials. The retailer says the claim is based on comparisons with comparable discounter products in each local market and aims to provide clearer pricing guidance for shoppers across a range of around 3,000 products. Edeka hopes the initiative, supported by a broad marketing campaign and phased rollout across the range, will increase store traffic and improve sales performance amid continued consumer price sensitivity.

Insight Partner, Dan Butler’s view:

This highlights the intensifying price competition in Germany as supermarkets increasingly adopt discount-style pricing messages to win back value-focused shoppers. It also underlines the growing importance of private label brands, with retailers using own-brand value propositions as a key battleground against the discounters. Germany’s escalating price war is likely to increase margin pressure on suppliers, as retailers demand lower costs and greater efficiency to support increasingly aggressive private label pricing strategies.

Les Mousquetaires adapting to climate change

French retailer Intermarché revealed to LSA that climate resilience is becoming an investment criterion. Being sustainable is becoming increasingly a core part of the retailer’s investment and business operations, as climate change becomes a business risk. The retailer plans to invest in several priority areas including improving building insulation, integrating fire-resistant materials, and replacing refrigeration units with more efficient equipment. Currently, 30% of the group’s refrigeration equipment runs on natural gas the aim is to reach 70%.

Senior Insight Analyst, Lucy Beaumont’s view:

With weather disruptions affecting store operations, supply chains, product availability, infrastructure, and operating costs it is becoming increasingly important to retailers and suppliers to invest in more resilient operations. Extreme weather has seen a Europe-wide effect with retailers’ refrigeration systems struggling to withstand the impacts. We have seen Carrefour create emergency support programmes to revise fresh produce purchase prices to reflect higher production costs, temporarily shorten payment terms to 15 days, and waive penalties for logistics or supply delays.

REWE Group in talks to acquire stake in MPreis  

Further changes may be coming to the Austrian market, with reports of the German group being in talks to acquire a 25% stake in the family-owned Tyrolean retailer, which operates around 270 stores. MPreis has struggled in recent years, with losses of around €7m reported in 2024 and changes in management and to the board. 

Senior Insight Analyst, Michela Pearson’s view:

This is not unexpected, as MPreis has been seeking investors and partners since early 2026 to help with its struggling operations. SPAR is reportedly also interested in a partnership. The locations of MPreis stores would be attractive to REWE, as it has less of a presence in the region. Unimarkt stores were also recently acquired by REWE and SPAR, showcasing how the market continues to consolidate as smaller players struggle to keep up with rising costs and changing shopper behaviour.

Nemlig.com to build new warehouse with Ocado

The Danish online retailer is investing millions in the construction of a new automated warehouse in Brøndby, allowing it to optimise operations and improve efficiencies. This will help Nemlig further commit to its promise of providing Danes with the cheapest groceries as it competes against the strong players in the discount channel.

Senior Insight Analyst, Michela Pearson’s view:

Nemlig.com has been fighting in the value arena, lowering prices and proving to Danish shoppers that the online channel does not have to cost more in a market that is dominated by discount. This new investment in automation, the biggest in the company’s history, will allow it to sustain the growth it has seen in recent years and significantly expand its operations in the market.

Auchan accelerates quick commerce growth through Bolt Food partnership 

Auchan Poland has partnered with Bolt Food to expand its quick commerce offer nationwide, enabling shoppers to order up to 10,000 grocery and everyday products from 48 stores across 10 cities, with delivery in as little as 25 to 60 minutes. Orders are picked directly in Auchan stores and fulfilled by Bolt Food couriers, extending the retailer's omnichannel strategy while improving convenience and accessibility for shoppers.

Insight Partner, Dan Butler’s view:

Quick commerce is becoming an increasingly important channel for grocery retailers as shoppers continue to prioritise convenience, speed and on-demand access to everyday essentials. Retailers that can offer rapid delivery are better positioned to capture impulse purchases, top-up shopping missions and time-poor shoppers who increasingly expect groceries to be available within an hour. Partnering with specialist delivery platforms, such as Bolt Food, allows grocers to scale these services quickly and cost-effectively, benefiting from established logistics networks and shopper reach without the significant investment required to build and operate their own last-mile infrastructure.

Wolt & Lyko team up to grow health and beauty quick commerce in the Nordics

Wolt has partnered with beauty retailer Lyko to offer thousands of beauty, haircare and personal care products through its app across Sweden, Finland and Norway. Deliveries will be available from 34 stores, including flagship locations in Stockholm, Helsinki and Oslo. The move reflects growing demand for beauty products via rapid delivery, with health and beauty now one of Wolt's fastest-growing retail categories. The partnership supports Lyko's convenience-driven strategy while helping Wolt expand into non-food retail.

Insight Analyst, Linda Haden’s view:

Health and beauty is one of the most exciting growth opportunities in the Nordics, driven by wellness trends, digital innovation and evolving shopper expectations. Online, retailers are winning through rapid fulfilment, click & collect and seamless omnichannel experiences. In-store, retailers such as Lyko and Normal are creating immersive, experience-led environments that encourage discovery, trial and impulse purchasing. Together, these trends point to a category where speed, convenience and experience are becoming equally important.