French supermarket, Intermarché, has launched a new online service that will sell products direct to the consumer, without using any third party companies.

Nestlé UK and Ireland has cemented its sustainability vision and targets in a new Creating Shared Value report, which has been published this week.

Sainsbury's, a leading UK supermarket, has appointed Karen Whitworth as Director of Supply Chain Operations, replacing Tim Goalen who has moved to another position at the retailer.

On-shelf Availability decreased for the first time in 2010, falling to 97. 7% in August 2010, according to the latest ECR UK Availability survey.

The Co-operative will reach a major milestone in its integration of the Somerfield business at the end of September, when its food range alignment from the two businesses is complete, according to press reports.

IGD is holding a free supply chain seminar in Paris, France that will benchmark the French food retail supply chain against that of the UK. The seminar, which will explore collaboration in the grocery supply chain, provides a unique opportunity to hear directly from Tesco and Casino Group.

Unilever, along with the University of Aberdeen, has designed a tool to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions in its supply chain.

The Cool Farm Tool is designed to help farmers calculate total greenhouse gas emissions from daily farming activities.

Nisa-Today's has announced it is to open a 195,000 sq. ft (18,100 sq. m) distribution centre in Livingston, Scotland to support business growth in the region.

Tesco's opened the latest addition to its fresh depot network in February 2010. The site, located in Pilning near Avonmouth operates a flow through process so that Tesco holds no inventory on site.

European logistics provider, Norbert Dentressangle, has announced it will acquire the freight forwarding activities of US-based Schneider Logistics.

Food and drink manufacturers in the UK are increasing their investment in automation and robotic equipment during 2010, according to new data from the British Automation and Robotics Association (BARA).

Edeka Minden-Hannover, one of Edeka's largest regional co-operatives in Germany, wants regional suppliers and service providers to make the switch to paperless invoicing, according to press reports.

Waitrose is planning to use multi-temperature, multi-deck trailers to distribute fresh and frozen produce later this year, according to the latest John Lewis Partnership Sustainability Report.

London City Bond, the UK wine and spirits logistics provider, has secured a contract with Zonin, one of the largest producers in the Italian wine sector.

IGD's Supply Chain Analysis will soon have fully up-dated supply chain profiles for the UK's top two grocery retailers, Tesco and Asda. In addition SCA will be publishing, for the first time, a supply chain profile of Morrisons providing unique insight into the retailer's supply chain infrastructure and UK operation.

Nisa-Today's is extending its waste packaging recycling scheme to all members located around the M25 corridor and the initiative will be launched for members served by the Stoke depot in September.

Canadian retailer Loblaw is testing Class 8 trucks that run on petrol-electric hybrid technology to improve fuel efficiency in its fleet and reduce the carbon footprint of the company.

Cargill, the Australia-based international food manufacturer, is investing AUS $13m to upgrade the wastewater treatment system at its beef processing facility in New South Wales, according to press reports.

This week, Tesco is trialling a 'drive-thru' supermarket at its Extra store in Baldock, Hertfordshire. Customers will order online and collect at the store, where staff will pack their shopping into the car boot.

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders has reported that the European Commission may include a four metre height limit in the European Whole Vehicle Type Approval parameters for trailers and semi-trailers.

US and Canadian-based supermarket Safeway is to restructure its distribution centre network that surrounds Vancouver, in British Columbia, according to press reports.

Marks & Spencer is planning to invest around £30m in building a distribution centre close to Derby, in the UK, according to press reports.

The Derby distribution centre, which is still subject to planning consent, will be the retailer's latest addition to its expanding supply chain network.

Birds Eye's new UK storage and distribution operation in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire has been up and running since May 2010. The shared-user facility, which was built by Partner Logistics - a Netherlands-based logistics provider specialising in automated cold stores, represented a good opportunity for Birds Eye to reorganise its supply chain following its separation from Unilever in 2006 and the end of a contract with DHL in 2009.

The Stobart Group expects growth to continue in the second half of the year as new contracts in the food and grocery industry start to deliver, the company announced in a pre-close trading statement.

Procter & Gamble has appointed Monique Picou as Supply Chain Director, responsible for supply network operations for P&G UK and Ireland, according to press reports.

Kaufland, part of Germany's Lidl-Schwarz Group, is expanding its logistics network in Romania, according to press reports.

The retailer has been present in the Romanian market since 2005 and in 2009 Kaufland received a loan of €150m from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development to fund further expansion in the market.

Online retailer Ocado, is planning to build a new distribution centre on a 35-acre site near Tamworth, Staffordshire in the UK, according to press reports.

Loblaw, the market leading supermarket in Canada, is rationalising its distribution centre network with the closure of its Halifax depot, located in Nova Scotia in the Atlantic region.

Tesco, the UK's largest supermarket, will further optimise its supply chain operations with new software from ORTEC, a software solutions provider.

As part of Waitrose's continuing efforts to reduce its CO2 emissions, the retailer has started an initiative to use liquid biomethane to operate home delivery vehicles in central London.