Retail Week
February 18th 2011
View all stories from this issue.
-
Metro Cash & Carry to expand in India, China and Russia
Metro Cash & Carry chief executive Eckhard Cordes has said that India, along with China and Russia, will be one of the top three markets for the German company in the coming years. Metro plans to open 50 cash and carry stores by 2015 in India, matching the pace of the company’s expansion in China, the world’s fastest-growing major economy.“Our target of 50 stores by 2015 won’t be the end, we definitely see a potential of a three-digit number for our stores here,” said Cordes, witho -
Shoppers Drug Mart sales up 3.9% to £6.56bn
Shoppers Drug Mart has reported full-year sales for 2010 of C$10.37bn (£6.56bn), up 3.9%. The retailer’s sales continued to grow in all regions of the country, led by strong gains in Western Canada and Quebec. Its capital investment and store development programme, which resulted in a 6.4% year-on-year rise in selling space, had a positive impact. Sales rose 2.1% on like-for-like basis. Adjusted net earnings were up 2.2% to C$598m (£378.4m).Shoppers Drug Mart expects total sales to gro -
Albemarle & Bond unveils new fascia and easy-to-say branding
Pawnbroker Albemarle & Bond is rolling out a new fascia across its portfolio as it looks to revamp its image as its retail sales fall in the face of soaring gold prices. -
Aldi launches ‘Like brands only cheaper’ TV ads
Hard discounter Aldi has kicked off an advertising campaign this week to highlight what it claims is the big brand quality of its products. -
Asda staff to share £26.9m bonus pot
Asda staff are to share a £26.9m bonus pot this year. -
Aurora starts multi-brand EPoS roll-out
Womenswear retailer Aurora Fashions has set up a multi-brand point-of-sale system to shops in Germany and Sweden that allows the group to take payment for several brands under one roof. -
B&Q to sell Royal Wedding gnomes
B&Q is celebrating the Royal Wedding with the sale of a commemorative pair of gnomes. -
Being in the know
Headlines about unethical factory standards have once again highlighted the problem that retailers face with their complex supply chains -
Best Buy cuts international operations but expects UK growth
Electricals giant Best Buy is to scale back its international operations but has insisted that the UK, where it has a joint venture with Carphone Warehouse, is a growth opportunity. -
Blacks forecasts slashed as Gillis announces departure
Broker FinnCap has cut its forecasts for outdoor specialist Blacks Leisure, which last week revealed chief executive Neil Gillis is leaving. -
Blockbuster UK boss says business isn’t under threat
Blockbuster UK has insisted that the troubles its US parent Blockbuster Inc are facing do not threaten the British division. -
BRIC countries in top five grocery markets by 2015
Brazil, Russia, India and China are set to be ranked in the top five grocery markets for the first time by 2015, research has claimed. -
Canadian Tire Q4 sales up 2.4% to £1.96bn
Canadian Tire reported sales up 2.4% in the fourth quarter to C$3.1bn (£1.96bn), while net earnings rocketed 88.2% to C$181.1m (£114.6m). Sales at its Canadian Tire Retail division, which comprises mainly company-owned and operated stores, increased 0.5%. Like-for-like sales declined 0.4%. Adjusted earnings before taxes at Canadian Tire Retail soared 82.3%. The increase in earnings is primarily due to lower interest costs and several positive margin impacts from a number of items, including l -
Carrefour's Romania sales drop 0.4% to £952m
Carrefour’s sales in Romania fell 0.4% to e1.13bn (£952m) during 2010, and on a like-for-like basis sales decreased 5%. The retailer’s sales are now lower than they were in 2008, when full-year sales came in at e1.19bn (£1bn) - even though the retailer now operates 14 more stores than it did in 2008.Last year, Carrefour opened one hypermarket (in the city of Drobeta Turnu Severin) and 10 supermarkets, while also closing three superm -
Cash Converters reports record profits as retail sales soar
Pawnbroker Cash Converters reported record group profits for the 6 months to December 31 as its retail sales soared in the UK. -
Changing rooms
The new look John Lewis womenswear floors provide a credible setting for fashion shows and fashionistas alike. -
Clarke needs to convince UK still offers growth for Tesco
New Tesco chief executive Phil Clarke needs to do more to reassure the market about its performance and growth prospects in the UK, while also convince it of the virtues of its international operations, broker Barclays Capital said this week. -
Cleaning up
The Bribery Act promises to hit global supply chains hard. Liz Morrell reports on what retailers need to know -
Crew Clothing targets 50% online sales rise
Fashion retailer Crew Clothing is gunning to increase its online sales by 50% this year as it strengthens its multichannel operation. -
Crossrail misery in Oxford Street
Road works for the new Crossrail project began on a key section of Oxford Street this week that are likely to affect footfall in the prime area around Bond Street station. -
CVA talks with landlords ‘constructive’, says JJB
JJB Sports chief executive Keith Jones said he has been encouraged by landlords’ responses so far as crunch talks about the retailer’s potential CVA continue. -
CVAs penalise retailers that do the right thing
History has a habit of repeating itself, as those landlords that hold the fate of JJB Sports in their hands will be only too aware. It was only two years ago that the sportswear retailer came cap-in-hand to them, pleading for their support for a CVA, which the company claimed would secure its long-term future. -
Ebay strikes O2 app deal
EBay has teamed up with O2 owner Telefonica to pre-load the marketplace’s shopping app on its customers’ handsets. -
Findel to restructure in bid to lift performance
Home shopping group Findel aims to raise £80.5m via a rights issue and share placing as it plans to restructure its balance sheet and bids to improve performance. -
Food fights as inflation pits grocers against suppliers
Who pays for the rising cost of food? It is becoming a growing source of contention between supermarkets and their suppliers around the globe. -
Former Kingfisher director Nigel Whittaker dies
Former Kingfisher director Nigel Whittaker died on Saturday after a long illness. -
Former Primark buying boss joins New Look to revamp product offer
New Look has hired former Primark buying and merchandising director Julian Kilmartin to help it fix the product mistakes it made in the latter half of 2010. -
Former Principles boss Peter Davies rescues Ollie & Nic from administration
Vintage accessories brand Ollie & Nic has been rescued by Principles founder Peter Davies after it went into administration. -
Game’s new strategy aims to triple digital revenue by 2013
Retailer is aiming to be a fully multichannel business with a focus on downloads and mobile gaming -
H&M considers entering Iceland
Sweden-based fashion retailer H&M is rumoured to be looking at entering Iceland, and has viewed potential outlets in the capital Reykjavik. Reykjavik city centre director Jakob Frimann Magnusson said he had spent much time sourcing suitable properties for the fashion chain. However, H&M has denied any fixed plans to establish operations in the country. -
Harvey Norman sales increase 1.2% to £2.07bn
AUSTRALIA -
HMV enjoys sales uplift after last night's Brits
HMV has enjoyed a boost in sales on the back of the Brit Awards last night, with sales of one winner’s album soaring 594% compared with the same day last week. -
Hobbs creative director to star in new BBC series
Fashion retailer Hobbs is to feature in a new BBC series called Working Girl,where creative director Sandy Verdon mentors a work-shy young apprentice in the world of fashion and retail. -
HobbyCraft bolsters its management with FD
Arts and crafts retailer HobbyCraft has further bolstered its management team with the appointment of Staples’ UK & Ireland finance director Claire Blunt. -
In Focus: The White Company
The White Company has cut its distinctive, bleached swath across the upmarket homewares field in recent years, at least until 2009 when recession finally cut annual sales growth. -
JJB troubles highlight sector-wide problems
General stores once again lagged the All-Share index as the sector’s problems were put centre stage by JJB’s plans for a second CVA. -
JJB: Second time lucky?
JJB’s second CVA attempt has called the process into question. Nicola Harrison asks if landlords will throw JJB another lifeline and if the CVA process is fatally flawed -
John Lewis chief warns against interest rate rises
John Lewis managing director Andy Street has warned that a rise in interest rates would negatively impact consumer confidence. -
John Lewis to open store in Birmingham
John Lewis is to open a department store in Birmingham restarting its store expansion strategy after developers jettisoned plans during the recession. -
Kantar Worldpanel: Toiletries
The latest Kantar Worldpanel Toiletries data for the 12 weeks ending January 23, 2011 vs 2010 -
Kiddicare crib notes
Unless you have small children, there’s a chance that you might not be familiar with Morrisons’ acquisition Kiddicare. But Retail Week has been tracking the company’s progress for years. Here I give the lowdown on the retailer’s technical expertise. -
Kiddicare deal to take Morrisons international
Grocer sizes up non-food and online opportunities after Kiddicare acquisition -
Kingfisher expects profit to be at top end of expectations, despite B&Q hit by snow
DIY group Kingfisher expects to report full year pre-tax profit at the top end of analyst expectations, despite B&Q being hit by the snowy weather in December. -
Knowing the unknown
Preparing for the unexpected is critical to supply chain success. Alison Clements looks at how retailers can react more quickly to changes in demand -
Kroger ramps up promotions through MyWebGrocer
Kroger has started to provide shoppers at all its banners with information about promotions and products through MyWebGrocer. With the online tool, consumers can also personalise shopping lists and receive recipes through a computer or smartphone. Tengelmann A&P, Winn-Dixie, Delhaize Food Lion and Shop Rite are also participating in MyWebGrocer. -
La Senza chief denies Victoria's Secret sale talks
La Senza commercial director Beverley Williams has denied that the UK lingerie retailer’s backers are in talks with Limited Brands, the parent company of US-lingerie chain Victoria’s Secret, about a possible sale of the business. -
Manchester council cracks down on chuggers
Manchester city council is restricting the activities of chuggers to make the city more attractive to shoppers. -
Mills & Boon Selfridges, Oxford Street
Come, been and gone, its purpose served. The pop-up store in Selfridges’ Wonder Room Concept Store created by romantic fiction publisher Mills & Boon, was there for only one reason - to mark Valentine’s Day last Monday and, presumably, to shift a few volumes. -
Morrisons leaps into etail age
Supermarket group Morrisons’ acquisition of online specialist Kiddicare looks like an inspired deal. -
Morrisons to send top managers on cricket coaching course
Morrisons chief executive Dalton Philips is to send his top managers on cricket coaching courses to help them improve their management skills. -
Mr Porter goes live for founding members
New premium menswear etail site Mr Porter has gone live this afternoon but only to its' founding members. -
Net-a-Porter's menswear site goes live
Net-a-Porter’s new menswear standalone site Mr Porter has gone live this morning. -
Netto Marken-Discount to streanmline brand assortment
Edeka’s discount chain Netto Marken-Discount is considering streamlining its assortment. The brand range may be cut back in favour of an optimised private-label offer, and B and C brands in particular may be replaced by own-labels. Drugstore and dairy products are expected to be affected the most, while condiments and fresh products like meats and charcuterie will become focal points. -
New Dunelm chief plans multichannel push as profits rise
Value homewares group Dunelm’s new chief executive, Nick Wharton, who formally takes up the role today, is confident of continued growth despite tough trading conditions and highlighted multichannel opportunities. -
Ocado slips as John Lewis sells stake
Online grocer Ocado’s share slipped after John Lewis’s pension trust sold its remaining 10% stake in the etailer for £152m. -
ONS reports surprisingly strong January sales figures
Overall retail sales rose 8.2% by value and 5.3% by volume in January compared to the same month last year, according to the Office of National Statistics (ONS). -
Phones 4u sale process resurrected
Mobile phones retailer Phones 4u could be sold within weeks to private equity firm BC Partners after talks have been resurrected to buy the retailer, according to reports. -
Portfolio shake-up and sharper promotions planned at Thorntons
Thorntons’ new chief executive Jonathan Hart has begun a strategic review of the chocolatier that will reshape its property portfolio and emphasise its “uniqueness”. -
Retail in the community
Retailers can inspire change by putting something back into local communities, says Mark Price -
Sainsbury’s installs non-food kiosk in Local store
Sainsbury’s has installed its first non-food ordering kiosk in a local convenience store in a bid to drive growth in general merchandise. -
Sales at Westfield London leap to £870m
Sales at the Westfield London shopping centre in White City reached £870m last year, its owner revealed. -
Sales fall in all but two stores in another tough week for John Lewis
John Lewis reported another tough week, with sales only edging into positive territory thanks to the VAT rise, and all but two stores recording a decrease in sales. -
Sarah Curran
Chief Executive, My-Wardrobe.com -
Screwfix taps a new market
Tradesmen’s choice Screwfix has opened Watersmith, a standalone bathroom store in Stoke-on-Trent. John Ryan assesses its prospects -
See you in court
Employment tribunals are on the rise but this might not be the case for long. Joanne Ellul reports -
Selfridges to overhaul women’s designwear
Selfridges is to revamp its women’s designer floor in a bid to replicate the success of its Shoe Galleries. -
Share price soars at French Connection after stakebuilding
Fashion group French Connection’s shares rose sharply this week following stakebuilding by Standard Life. -
Shareholders back troubled JJB Sports' £31.5m fundraising
Shareholders in troubled retailer JJB Sports have backed a £31.5m fundraising, taking the store group one step forward towards survival. -
Shoppers expecting food prices to rise, says IGD
Most shoppers are expecting food prices to rise and are actively seeking out value to cope with it, according to IGD’s latest research. -
Social media yields £1.5m sales for Tesco
Tesco’s clothing division has generated £1.5m of sales via social media in the past year to date and will continue to bolster its credentials in the fashion world. -
Sports Direct retail sales up 13.8%
Sports Direct has reported retail sales up 13.8% to £371m in the 13 weeks to January 23. -
Supermarket fashion
Grocers already take close to a 10% share of the UK’s clothing market and it’s a trend that’s growing, with Morrisons finally set to enter the fray -
Supply chain up against more challenges
Life is not going to be easy for many retail professionals this year, but supply chain teams are among those going into overdrive. -
Tesco poised to be fastest growing global retailer
Tesco is set to be the fastest growing retailer of the global grocery top four, according to research house IGD. -
That’s show business
Retail theatre has been evolving since the first shop opened its door to the public. -
The Dixons family tree
Lord Kalms created an academy for high flyers at Dixons. Charlotte Hardie traces the company’s family tree and speaks to its founder about how it became a finishing school for the retail elite -
The future of EPoS
As consumer technology gets ever more advanced, how do you keep up with developments in a store environment? Rebecca Thomson looks at the future of point-of-sale systems -
Up against the clock
The immediacy of online buying has never quite extended to fulfilment, but that is starting to change. Joanne Ellul finds out about fashion group Aurora’s new 90-minute delivery promise -
Victoria's Secret 'in discussions to buy La Senza'
US lingerie brand Victoria’s Secret is in talks to buy La Senza, reports claim. -
Waitrose invests £10m in online operations
Upmarket grocer Waitrose has invested £10m in its online business as it ramps up its web operation to take on rivals including Ocado. -
Walgreens to run campaign promoting private-label
Drugstore operator Walgreens is to run its first national advertising campaign promoting its private-label health and wellness products. The campaign will highlight the quality of its private labels and the customer service provided by its pharmacists, rather than just their affordability. The digital portion of the campaign is the result of a collaboration with Digitas, part of the Publicis Groupe, and consists of video content on Walgreens’ page on the Parentsask.com website. -
Westfield London signs two US retailers
Two US fashion retailers, Gap-owned Banana Republic and upmarket shoes and accessories brand Michael Kors, have signed for stores at Westfield London. -
What it’s like to work at Oxfam
The inside view from head of people and communications Anne Webb -
What problems can retailers run into with the Distance Selling Regulations?
I have heard about several retailers that have run into problems complying with the Distance Selling Regulations. Can you outline what these involve? -
Whole Foods Market Q1 sales up 14% to £1.87bn
Whole Foods Market has reported sales for the first quarter ended January 16 increased 14% to $3bn (£1.87bn), with like-for-likes soaring 9.1%. Operating income, meanwhile, rose 44.1% to $147.6m (£92.1m) during the quarter.The retailer also announced plans to open wellness clubs at five of its US stores. The clubs, which debut in early summer, will be located within existing space at stores in New York, Chicago, Boston, Oakland, California and Princeton, New Jersey. -
WHSmith chief Kate Swann sells 27% of her shares
WHSmith chief executive Kate Swann has sold a substantial proportion of her shares in the bookseller and stationer. -
Woolworths site debuts dedicated art supplies offer
Woolworths.co.uk has branched into arts and crafts, launching a dedicated offer on its website.
