In this instalment, our analysts for Europe offer their take on some of the region’s latest developments and initiatives. Here’s what you need to know about:

• Lidl moves ahead of VAT reduction in Sweden

• Intermarché to display Yuka health ratings online

• Colruyt focuses on prevention-focused healthcare with new format

• Migros to end Tegut venture in Germany

• Spar Austria Group celebrates success in 2025

Lidl moves ahead of VAT reduction in Sweden

Lidl is lowering prices on its Matriket range by 12%, ahead of the national food VAT reduction on 1 April. The discount equals the full current VAT rate and applies to all products labelled Från Sverige (From Sweden). Lidl says the move supports shoppers before Easter and strengthens demand for Swedish-produced food. The retailer guarantees the full VAT cut will reach customers and positions the initiative as part of its price‑leadership strategy.

Senior Insight Analyst, Rachel Sibon’s view: Lidl’s decision to move early on Sweden’s VAT reduction with a full 12% price cut reinforces its position as the market’s most assertive price leader. By passing the saving ahead of schedule, Lidl is signalling to shoppers that it will move faster than competitors on value, while strengthening the appeal of domestically sourced products. The timing maximises visibility during a high‑demand period and puts pressure on rivals to respond.

Intermarché to display Yuka health ratings online

In France, Intermarché will display Yuka health scores on its online shopping service from spring 2026, initially covering 6,000 private‑label products. Yuka is a popular app that rates food and cosmetics based on nutrition, additives and processing, using a simple traffic‑light system. These scores will appear directly on product selection pages to streamline decision‑making for shoppers. Intermarché says the move reflects strong demand for transparency and supports its wider reformulation programme, which has improved over 3,000 recipes and removed 130 additives of concern.

Rachel Sibson, Senior Insight Analyst’s view: the integration of Yuka scores strengthens the retailer’s differentiation in a market where health, transparency and trust increasingly influence conversion. By embedding a familiar, third‑party scoring system at the point of decision, Intermarché reduces friction and positions its private label range more competitively against national brands.

Colruyt focuses on prevention-focused healthcare with new format

Colruyt Group has opened its first Yoboo Lifestyle Pharmacy in Antwerp, integrating traditional pharmaceutical services with personalised lifestyle coaching around nutrition, exercise and rest. The concept builds on Yoboo’s existing ecosystem of training, digital tools and corporate wellbeing programmes, aiming to make preventive health support more accessible. This launch represents a key milestone in Colruyt Group’s wider health ambitions and its commitment to future‑proof, prevention‑driven healthcare.

Insight Partner, Dan Butler‘s view: the Belgian retailer is responding directly to rising pressure on the healthcare system by placing prevention, lifestyle and long‑term wellbeing at the centre of everyday pharmacy services. By creating a physical space where health coaching, curated product ranges and digital tools come together, it is helping shoppers make more informed, proactive choices. For suppliers, this opens new opportunities to innovate and position products within a health‑focused, evidence‑based retail environment.

Find out more about how retailers are turning shopper healthcare needs into service growth here.

Migros to end Tegut venture in Germany

The Swiss retailer will dissolve the supermarket chain and sell most of its roughly 300 stores, with over 200 going to Edeka and a high double‑digit number to Rewe, pending antitrust approval. The brand will disappear by the end of the year, and Tegut will cease to exist as an independent company with its own central functions. Migros is taking substantial financial write‑downs as it withdraws entirely from the German market, citing the country’s tough, price‑driven environment and Tegut’s lack of scale.

Insight Partner, Dan Butler’s: Edeka’s acquisition of the majority of Tegut sites strengthens its regional dominance, especially in Hesse and southern Germany, deepening its already powerful store network. Rewe’s smaller package still helps it bolster presence in contested mid‑size cities, but the deal overall consolidates the market further around the top two retailers.

Senior Insight Analyst, Michela Pearson’s view: Migros has recently shed many of its non-core retail businesses, and this latest move bring the focus back on its Swiss operations. This will allow it to focus on its currently struggling food retail segment and its successful Galaxus online non-food offering as it continues to battle against Coop Schweiz for leadership. The strategy will focus on streamlining private label and growing the store network across all channels.

Spar Austria Group celebrates success in 2025

The retailer saw sales revenue grow 4% across all business segments for its combined operations in Austria and five neighbouring countries. In its home market, sales of €10.8bn were achieved, up 4.2% on the previous year. With a network of over 1,500 stores across multiple channels, 2025 saw the retailer invest €900m, introducing a new store design and continuously expanding its convenience and forecourt estate.

Senior Insight Analyst, Michela Pearson’s view: Spar continues to solidify its leadership in Austria. It will integrate 25 Unimarkt locations into its estate this year and continue to invest in its store estate, with a particular focus on the convenience channel. It will see REWE Group fight to gain back share, with the acquisition of 21 Unimarkt locations and investment of over €1.5 bn in the market over the next two years.

What to read next: 2026 European grocery retail legislation outlook

 

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