All International articles – Page 235
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News
Auchan revenue up 0.5% in 2009
Hypermarket operator Auchan revealed that consolidated group revenue excluding taxes grew 0.5% to €39.7bn (£35.4bn) in 2009.Group revenue decreased 2.8% in Western Europe due to the economic slowdown. This zone continues to account for more than 76% of the group’s revenue.Revenue grew 12.9% in Central and Eastern Europe and Asia, ...
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NewsAndy Bond to advise Walmart on new international markets
Outgoing Asda chief executive Andy Bond is to advise parent company Walmart on conquering Russia and other new markets when he steps up to the role of chairman.
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News
Borders sets aside space for e-reader category
Borders is setting up “Area-e” sections inside all its stores that will be dedicated to the growing e-book and e-reader category.The book retailer will offer a wide variety of e-readers for sale as well as a comprehensive array of accessories and extended warranty programmes. Borders expects to complete the roll-out ...
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News
Fresh & Easy launches EatWell range
Tesco’s Fresh & Easy Neigborhood Market has launched EatWell, a line of 17 new healthy, ready-to-eat prepared meals and sides.The range includes salads, soups, noodle dishes, main courses and other options, with most options selling for $3.99 (£2.46).The EatWell range has been designed to contain fewer than 500 calories in ...
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News
Blue Square seeks majority stake in Dor Alon
Supermarket operator Blue Square is planning to acquire a majority stake in Dor Alon, which operates 168 convenience stores and 183 petrol stations.Blue Square executive chairman David Wiessman said: “The acquisition would combine the retail operations of the company and Dor Alon into one group creating the largest retail group ...
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News
Body Shop to expand in India
Body Shop has announced plans to increase its number of stores in India from the current 30 to 150 by the end of 2012.Jonathan Price, managing director of Body Shop International (Asia Pacific), said: “The Indian market is very important for us. It was the fastest growing in the Asia ...
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News
Fast Retailing profits jump
Fashion group Fast Retailing has announced a 43% jump in operating profit for the first half to February, lifted by strong sales at Uniqlo.Consolidated net sales totalled ¥470.9bn (£3.23bn), rocketing 31.8% year on year. Like-for-likes at Uniqlo stores in Japan rose 13.1% for the period, beating its forecast of 11.2% ...
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News
7-Eleven aims for 20,000 environmentally friendly stores
Seven & I-owned 7-Eleven plans to have 20,000 environmentally friendly stores across the globe within five years, accounting for about 40% of its operations. The convenience stores will use LED technology for signs and lighting, generate electricity from solar power, feature hot water systems that use waste heat from air ...
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News
Gome sales fall
Electronics retailer Gome has benefited from its recent store closure strategy.While sales for the year to December 31 fell 7% to Yn42.7bn (£4bn) - the result of closing down 189 underperforming stores - net profit jumped 34.4%.Gome revealed that the government’s stimulus policies helped to lift sales and operating ...
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News
Technosila could fall to bank control
Electronics retailer Technosila could end up in the hands of MDM Bank as the retailer is not able to pay off its debts.The bank is also expected to receive controlling stakes in Business PRO, Technosila’s main wholesaler, and Multibank, which provided express loans in Technosila stores. MDM Bank has been ...
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News
H&M sales jump 7%
Clothing retailer H&M has reported results for the first quarter to February 28, with sales jumping 7% to Skr24.85bn (£2.1 bn), compared with the same period last year. In local currencies, the increase was 13%.H&M had 1,992 stores at the end of February, up from 1,748 a year ago. ...
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News
Komplett sells Dutch, Belgian and Irish operations
Norway’s online and mail order electronics retailer Komplett has completed the sale of its operations in the Netherlands, Belgium and Ireland to Dutch sector player ParaDigit Holding BV.The takeover also includes a licence agreement that allows ParaDigit to use the Komplett name for its online operations. The Norwegian retailer has ...
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News
Tesco opens first Extra store outside Britain
Tesco has launched its first Tesco Extra store outside Britain in Central Europe, in Bratislava, Slovakia.It has revamped the hypermarket in the capital’s Petržalka suburb to introduce the format, which offers services and boasts self-checkouts.Tesco’s Petržalka store director said: “It is the first Tesco Extra outside Britain. Operating directors from ...
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News
Grocery accounts for majority of Walmart US sales
Walmart revealed that its US division generated a majority of its sales from grocery categories for the first time in its history last year.Grocery sales - including meat, produce, deli, bakery, dairy, frozen foods, floral and dry groceries, as well as consumables such as health and beauty aids, household chemicals, ...
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News
Magnit profits up 46%
Net profits at local grocery chain Magnit jumped 46% in 2009 to $275.2m (£176m).Preliminary net retail revenue rose 28% to RUB169.6bn (£3.79bn). Like-for-likes climbed 4%, helped by a 6% rise in average basket value. The retailer added 646 stores in the year. Magnit said it will continue to cut prices ...
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News
Carrefour to invest up to £40m in Argentina
Carrefour will invest as much as ARS250m (£40m) in its stores network in Argentina this year as supermarket sales recover.The retailer, which operates under banners including Dia in the country, invested ARS1.25bn (£202m at current exchange rates) in stores growth between 2006 and 2009, and will add 23 stores to ...
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News
Rewe plans £360m investment in Austria
Rewe Group’s international arm plans to invest €400m (£360m) this year in Austria, where the division is based, and abroad.The figure is 20% less than last year, when Rewe International invested €500m (£446m), out of which €200m (£178m) was ploughed into Austria.Frank Hensel, the international arm’s chief executive, told financial ...
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News
Migros net sales down 3%
Swiss market leader Migros reported group net sales declined 3% to CHF24.95bn (£14.7bn) for 2009.The group blamed lower prices of Migros’ products, a dramatic drop in crude oil prices and a decline in business travel for the drop. However, net profit soared 20.8% to CHF846m (£500m). And the group’s other ...
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News
Rite Aid revenues slide 2.4%
Pharmacy retail giant Rite Aid has posted a year-on-year revenue decline of 2.4% to $25.7bn (£14 bn) for 2009, primarily as a result of 121 net store closures and a decline in same store sales of 0.9%.Same store retail sales slid 2.9%, while pharmacy sales rose 0.1%. The number of ...
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News
AS Watson total revenues down 2%
Total revenues at Hutchison Whampoa’s AS Watson retail division shrank 2% to HK$116.09bn (£9.81bn) for the 2009 full year, but climbed 5% on a constant currency basis.However, EBIT soared 30% to HK$5.69bn (£480.7m) due to continued improvement in costs, operational efficiency and cautious expansion. AS Watson plans to double its ...