Planet Retail News Feed

REWE GROUP FY09 sales growth driven by acquisitions and expansion

Rewe Group has disclosed its preliminary full year results for 2009, saying that total sales for the group reached EUR50.9 billion (USD70.8 billion), up 2.7% on 2008.

MARKS & SPENCER Executive Chairman to leave in March 2011

Marks & Spencer Executive Chairman, Sir Stuart Rose is to leave the retailer in March 2011, earlier than he is obliged to. Rose will give up his executive responsibilities becoming Chairman from 31 July this year.

CO-OPERATIVE GROUP posts record results

UK-based The Co-operative Group posted record results, with group sales rising 31% to GBP13.7 billion (USD22.24 billion) in the 51 weeks ended 2 January 2010.

BIM 2009 sales climb 25%

Turkish hard discount retailer BIM has disclosed its full year results for 2009, saying that sales climbed 25% last year to TRL5.32 billion (USD3.42 billion).

GREGGS profits up 8% in 2009

UK bakery operator Greggs has reported that for the year ended 2 January 2010 pre-tax profit was up 8% to GBP48.8 million (USD79.2 million) and sales rose 4.8% to GBP658.2 million (USD1.07 billion).

SUBWAY eyes growth in Asia

According to local reports, US-based sandwich chain Subway is planning to aggressively expand the number of outlets it has in Asia over the next five years.

STARBUCKS customises Frappuccinos

Starbucks will begin allowing customers to design their own Frappuccinos as it looks to boost summer sales, offsetting the seasonal slowing of demand for hot-coffee.

PPR Fnac appoints new head for restructured music department

French entertainment and electronics retailer Fnac, owned by PPR, has appointed Bertrand Gstalder as Director of the reorganised department for music, video and video games as of 1 March 2010.

BORDERS executives eligible for retention bonuses

Borders board has approved a new incentive planned aimed at retaining its top executives as the bookstore chain fights to regain its financial health. The programme is intended to give management time to develop a business plan for the second half of 2010 with achievable EBITDA targets that the board's compensation committee will consider in setting incentive goals for the second half of the year.

AMAZON offers Kindle for Mac application

Amazon has released ‘Kindle for Mac’, a free application that lets readers access Kindle books on their Mac computers. Kindle books can now be read on the Kindle, Kindle DX, iPhone, iPod touch, BlackBerry, PC and Mac, and soon the iPad.

HORNBACH defies recession to gain market share in Germany

Germany-based DIY retailer Hornbach has announced the preliminary results for its 2009/10 financial year ended 28 February 2010. Group-wide net sales rose by 3.7% to EUR2.85 billion (USD3.97 billion) in the period, on the back of positive like-for-like sales and two new store openings in Switzerland and Romania.

INDITEX provides further detail on Indian plans

Spanish fashion retailer Inditex is planning to open between 20 and 25 Zara stores in India over the next three years, according to its CEO Pablo Isla.

WILLIAMS-SONOMA Pottery Barn opens first store in Dubai

In partnership with MH Alshaya Company, US-based home furnishings retailer Williams-Sonoma has introduced its Pottery Barn banner to the Middle East, with the opening of its first store in Dubai.

AEON revises profit outlook upward

Japanese retailer AEON has revised its net profit outlook upward for the year ended 28 February due to a revision to its pension system. The retailer is now estimating JPY23.5 billion (USD261.69 million) net profit, an increas on its previous expectations of JPY7.5-15 billion (USD83.52-167.03 million).

AMAZON adds more cook books to the Kindle Store

Amazon has announced that the Kindle Store recently added many new great books for cooks. "Customers tell us they love to cook from recipes on their Kindles," said Russ Grandinetti, Vice President, Kindle Content.

ASSOCIATED WHOLESALE GROCERS selects DemandTec Deal Management

US-based Associated Wholesale Grocers has entered an agreement with DemandTec to use DemandTec's Deal Management software service on its TradePoint Network.

AUR FoodWorks’ COLES outlet acquisitions in doubt

AUR-owned Australian supermarket group FoodWorks has halted its takeover of 45 Coles stores after auditors raised worries over whether FoodWorks is a going concern, the local press reported.

BARNES & NOBLE introduces a new programme for its e-book reader

Barnes & Noble has announced the ‘More in Store’ programme for Nook, the Barnes & Noble e-book reader. Available only in Barnes & Noble stores and on the Nook, the free ‘More in Store’ programme offers nook customers new, exclusive content from bestselling and new authors, special offers and savings, and weekly bestseller and new release lists.

BLUE SQUARE posts sales decrease for 2009

Israel-based Blue Square reported ILS ILS7.35 billion (USD1.87 billion) sales for the year ended 31 December 2009, a 1.1% decrease on the ILS7.43 billion (USD2.07 billion) it posted in 2008.

CARREFOUR Brazil launches e-commerce operation

Carrefour has unveiled a new e-commerce portal in Brazil, investing BRL50 million (USD28.4 million) in the project, the retailer said in a statement. To differentiate itself from its competition, it has invested in services, ranging from electronics installation to a help desk for computer equipment.

CENTRAL RETAIL reveals 2009 performance and 2010 investment plans

Thailand’s Central Retail has announced plans to invest THB9.8 billion(USD293 million) for further expansion, both within Thailand and internationally.

CHICK-FIL-A rolling out spicy chicken

Chick-fil-A is launching a new spicy chicken sandwich at all its stores beginning in June. “This is a market we’re trying to expand in. We’re really trying to grow our brand in South Florida, and, based on demographics, this area probably likes spicy food,” spokesperson Mark Baldwin said.

CP ALL revenue drops in 2009

For the year to end December 2009, Thai retailer CP All saw total consolidated revenues fall by 9% to THB117.8 billion (USD3.41 billion). However, 2008 comparatives includes sales of THB28.9 billion (USD835.97 million) from the sold Lotus hypermarket chain in China.

DEBENHAMS upbeat about Principles re-launch

UK-based department store retailer Debenhams has hailed the re-launch of the Principles fashion brand in its stores as a success. Debenhams bought the brand following the collapse of its previous owner, Mosaic Fashions a year ago.

DELHAIZE changes Bloom expansion plans in North Carolina

Delhaize’s Food Lion in US is pulling plans to open four Bloom stores in Raleigh, North Carolina. The four properties - some of which are already under development - will all become Food Lion stores instead.

EMKE GROUP to deploy Wincor Nixdorf store software

Emke Group has opted to deploy TP.net, Wincor Nixdorf's store software. The retailer is planning to install TP.net on 3,000 POS systems and has signed a corresponding master agreement with an option for a further 1,000 licenses.

FALABELLA posts 2009 sales decrease

Chilean retailer Falabella posted 3.52 trillion (USD6.18 billion) sales for its 2009 financial year, a 2.7% decrease compared to the previous year. Net profit totalled CLP199 billion (USD349 million), 0.8% higher than in 2008.

JOHN LEWIS Ocado plans stock market flotation following general election

Ocado has indicated its intention to launch a stock market flotation after the election. Speaking to Reuters, Finance Director, Andrew Bracey told Reuters Ocado has had “very, very good” feedback from potential investors and would like to float on “the other side of the election.” Concerning Ocado’s relationship with Waitrose and with Ocado’s contract to sell Waitrose products due to expire in 2013, Bracey said he was confident the contract would be renewed and that the relationship would continue “for the foreseeable future.”

KROGER surprised by competitors’ aggressive price reactions

Kroger was surprised by the aggressive response by competitors in the recession, Supermarket News reported. "The biggest issue we had in 2009 is we didn't keep our powder dry after the first quarter to allow for reaction to competitive changes and the macroeconomic things that persisted throughout the year," said Chief Financial Officer Michael Schlotman.

MERCATOR stake withdrawn from sale

Two more Slovenian banks, Nova Kreditna Banka Maribor (NKBM) and Abanka Vipa, have withdrawn from the sale of a joint stake in Slovenia’s largest food retailer Mercator, local daily Dnevnik reported.

POUNDWORLD opens first Northern Ireland store

Poundworld has opened its first store in Northern Ireland. The move follows its recent entry to Scotland. The unit - a flagship store located in Belfast's Donegall Place - opened its doors to what the retailer describes as a "crowd of rapturous customers".

ROSS STORES net profit skyrockets in 2009

US off-price retailer Ross Stores posted a 45% increase in net profit to USD442.8 million for the full year to 20 January 2010. Sales increased 11% to USD7.18 million, with comparable-store sales up 6%.

RUCH to lay off 799 staff

The management of Polish kiosk operator Ruch has begun a restructuring programme which is foreseeing a 20% reduction in the number of employees. The planned layoffs will be completed by the end of August and will impact 799 people.

SAINSBURY’S to begin keeping bees

Sainsbury’s is to become the first UK supermarket to keep bees. The retailer plans to start keeping bees on the land surrounding its new eco-store in Dursley, Gloucestershire.

TESCO re-evaluates its wine strategy

Tesco is re-evaluating its wine strategy after introducing an array of wines over GBP7 (USD10.91) in 2007. Senior Product Development Manager, Pierpaolo Petrassi said the recession had led Tesco to remove 150 wines from its range, bringing it down to 900.

TESCO Slovakia and Czech Republic to sell pharmaceuticals

Tesco in the Czech Republic and Slovakia will begin to sell pharmaceuticals after some shops have been rebranded as Tesco Extra. Pharmacies will be operated separately in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

THE GAP Old Navy to redesign stores

This spring, The Gap-owned Old Navy is redesigning its stores. The remodelling of the store at Atlantic Station in Midtown Atlanta should be done in May.

TOTAL may close up to 10% of petrol stations in France

Total S.A. estimated that about 10% of all petrol stations running under the Total brand in France could close within the next two to three years, according to Le Figaro.

WAL-MART Mexico tests wind farm

Wal-Mart Mexico has begun testing a 67.5MW wind farm due to begin operating next month and supply electricity to 348 local shops. Built in the La Ventosa, Oaxaca state, the wind farm will supply shops in Mexico City's Federal District, in Mexico and Morelos states.

WAL-MART Seiyu reveals new expansion policy in Japan

Wal-Mart-owned Seiyu’s new CEO has announced the company will reverse its previous policy of closing unprofitable stores, Just-Food reported. Speaking at his first conference since he took the helm of Japan-based Seiyu, Toru Noda said he believed the group could lower its cost base through a policy of aggressive store expansion.

WOOLWORTHS (RSA) launches Essentials private label

South Africa-based Woolworths has launched a new private label range called Woolworths Essentials. The range features core basic products across all food departments, as well as household cleaning products and toiletries.