All International articles – Page 203

  • News

    Lidl relying on exclusive manufacturer contracts and own production facilities for private-label

    2011-03-25T00:00:00Z

    Schwarz Group’s discounter Lidl is increasingly relying on exclusive manufacturer contracts and own production facilities for its private-label products.Lidl is building two more plants for waters and soft drinks in Germany, in addition to its existing four Mitteldeutsche Erfrischungsgetränke GmbH & Co KG factories, bought by Lidl five years ago.

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    News

    ‘Minimal closures’ in Gap’s UK portfolio

    2011-03-25T00:00:00Z

    Gap has said its international arm, which includes the UK, will continue to be a key driver of the fashion giant’s growth despite a handful of store closures.

  • News

    Walmart chief for the US William Simon confident of reversing the fortunes of the retailer

    2011-03-25T00:00:00Z

    Walmart chief for the US William Simon said he was confident of reversing the fortunes of the retailer after seven consecutive quarters of domestic sales declines at stores open at least a year.Part of his strategy includes returning to the Everyday Low Prices formula, after it veered to discounting. He ...

  • News

    Dissident Publix shareholders launch campaign to replace grocer's board

    2011-03-25T00:00:00Z

    A group of dissident Publix shareholders has launched a campaign to elect its own slate of nine directors to replace the existing grocer’s board, which is made up of five heirs and relatives of the chain’s founder, George Jenkins. The group is also pushing for the retailer to launch an ...

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    News

    Mothercare to make play for South America

    2011-03-25T00:00:00Z

    Mother and baby specialist Mothercare aims to expand into South America as it ramps up its international operations.

  • News

    Ahold has opened its first Albert Heijn store in Belgium

    2011-03-25T00:00:00Z

    Ahold has opened its first Albert Heijn store in Belgium. Among the 12,000 products sold 1,500 are Flemish, including a wide range of Belgian beers and chocolates. All items are offered at the same prices as at Albert Heijn in the Netherlands.At the store, which covers floor space of 13,450 ...

  • News

    Netflix to link accounts with Facebook

    2011-03-25T00:00:00Z

    Netflix has reportedly begun asking users to link their Netflix accounts with Facebook in order to share information about what films they are watching with friends and family.Netflix has been rolling out versions of the new Facebook integration to test users over the past few weeks. Facebook is increasingly being ...

  • News

    Williams-Sonoma Q4 net revenues up 9.7% to £740m

    2011-03-25T00:00:00Z

    Home furnishings retailer Williams-Sonoma has reported net revenues in its fourth quarter increased 9.7% to $1.2bn (£740m), including internet net revenue growth of 27.2% and a like-for-like sales increase of 5.2%.At the company’s mail order unit, Direct-to-customer (DTC), net revenues increased 17.3% to $466m (£287m), primarily driven by the Pottery ...

  • News

    Hornbach Holding net sales grow 5.7% to £2.6bn

    2011-03-25T00:00:00Z

    DIY operator Hornbach Holding has revealed net sales growth of 5.7% to E3.02bn (£2.6bn) for the financial year ended February 28.DIY store division Hornbach-Baumarkt-AG achieved growth of 5.6% year on year. Builders material wholesale division Hornbach Baustoff Union increased its net sales by 8.4% to a still marginal E180m (£158m).

  • News

    Deichmann sales up 13% to £58m

    2011-03-25T00:00:00Z

    Deichmann has filed a 13% increase in sales for the 2010 fiscal year to HUF19.9bn (£58m), with an uplift in volumes from 2.67 million to 3.17 million pairs of shoes.Deichmann currently has 72 stores in Hungary, 11 of which opened last year. This year it plans to open four new ...

  • News

    Apoteket to roll out 100 vending machines selling non-prescription drugs

    2011-03-25T00:00:00Z

    Leading pharmacy operator Apoteket expects to roll out about 100 vending machines selling non-prescription drugs and other healthcare items in the first half of 2011.A machine can hold up to 60 products and all will be located at convenience stores, shopping centres and major travel interchanges.Apoteket director of distribution and ...

  • News

    Cencosud sales up 16.1% to £7.3bn

    2011-03-25T00:00:00Z

    Cencosud has posted a 16.1% increase in net sales to CLP6.19 trillion (£7.3bn) for 2010, while operating profit reached CLP306.5bn (£364m), as domestic demand recovered from the global financial crisis.Cencosud’s Chilean operations account for 46% of annual revenue, while the remainder comes from its four other South American operations.

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    Analysis

    Walmart sets its sights on small format expansion

    2011-03-22T09:48:00Z

    Speaking at an investor conference last week, Walmart US chief executive Bill Simon outlined plans for a much larger foray into small-format retailing than many industry observers had anticipated.

  • News

    ITM sales up 4% to £30bn

    2011-03-22T09:40:00Z

    Grocer ITM has grown sales 4% for 2010 to reach nearly E35bn (£30bn) as a result of a strong international performance. Sales in France grew 1.6%. As part of its three-year plan, ITM intends to grow sales per square metre 15% and an extensive remodelling programme will be completed by ...

  • News

    Couche-Tard Q3 net earnings jump 29.6% to £46m

    2011-03-22T09:39:00Z

    Convenience store operator Couche-Tard posted net earnings of $71m (£46m) for the third quarter ended January 30, up 29.6% from the comparable period last year. The increase was attributable to growth in merchandise and service sales, the contribution from a rising number of sites offering fuel and the growth in ...

  • News

    Walgreens sells its pharmacy benefit management business

    2011-03-22T09:29:00Z

    Walgreens has sold its pharmacy benefit management business Walgreens Health Initiatives (WHI) to Catalyst Health Solutions for $525m (£450m), subject to certain adjustments. The transaction is structured as an acquisition of all the capital stock of WHI.Walgreens will retain and look to continue growing its speciality pharmacy and mail service ...

  • News

    Blockbuster to go ahead with its proposed £180m sale to investors

    2011-03-22T09:27:00Z

    Troubled retailer Blockbuster has been given clearance by the US courts to go ahead with its proposed $290m (£180m) sale to investors, overcoming fears that the group may file for Chapter 7 liquidation.The retailer had come under pressure from creditors, including a growing number of movie studios that were owed ...

  • News

    Gap to close 200 of its 900 stores worldwide by 2013

    2011-03-22T09:26:00Z

    Clothing giant Gap is to close 200 of its 900 stores worldwide by 2013, and has stated that part of its difficulties are due to it not investing enough in attracting ethnic minority customers in the US. Chairman and chief executive Glenn Murphy said Gap’s market share among African-, Asian- ...

  • News

    Oxo total revenue jumps 16.3% to £3.2bn

    2011-03-22T09:24:00Z

    Convenience store chain Oxxo has reported a total revenue increase of 16.3% for the 2010 financial year, up to 62.3bn pesos (£3.2bn). Sales growth was driven by the opening of 1,092 net new stores during the year and a 5.2% increase in like-for-like sales. Store traffic experienced a 3.9% increase, ...

  • News

    Mercadona gross sales up 6.3% to £341m

    2011-03-22T09:22:00Z

    Grocer Mercadona has reported gross sales of E16.5bn (£14.2bn) for the 2010 fiscal year, up 6.3% from last year. Net income was E398m (£341m), a 47% increase compared with 2009. The company invested about E600m (£515m), opening a net total of 46 stores.Mercadona reduced prices by an average of 4% ...