All International articles – Page 236
-
News
Otto sales up 1.5%
Retail and services company Otto Group posted sales up 1.5% to €10.14bn (£9.3bn) on a comparable basis in the year to February 28, 2010.The German group’s operating profit is expected to be “well above the previous year”, the group said. A key growth driver was its ecommerce business, which ...
-
AnalysisDiscount conversion won’t solve hypermarket woes
Remodelling an underperforming store into a discount format does not really address the underlying concerns regarding the profitability of a particular hypermarket.
-
OpinionBreak down the cross-border barriers
UK consumers are Europe’s biggest online shoppers. Most other EU states are way behind so there’s a lot of future business out there and many retailers want to tap into it. But it’s often not that easy, says Stephen Robertson
-
NewsTed Baker sets sights on India despite global trading challenges
Ted Baker is targeting India as it continues to expand into new markets.
-
NewsIsraeli cosmetics chain Laline targets UK via Land Securities tie-up
Israeli cosmetics chain Laline is on the hunt for stores in the UK as part of a deal with landlord Land Securities’ Brand Empire venture.
-
OpinionIs management shake-up just the start for Metro?
Metro Group has announced a shake-up of its leadership and unveiled a new corporate logo ahead of its 2009 results conference. The shuffling of senior management mainly affects the trade group’s Metro Cash & Carry division, and reflects a significant structural change there.
-
News
Coles offers online groceries to Northern Territory
Coles has become the first major grocery retailer in Australia to introduce an online shopping service to the Northern Territory with the launch of Coles.com.au to residents in Darwin and the Top End, Retail World reported. Separately, rival Woolworths will introduce its online shopping service into Western Australia for the ...
-
News
Barnes & Nobel e-commerce boss becomes chief executive
Barnes & Noble has promoted William Lynch, who currently heads Barnesandnoble.com, to the position of chief executive, replacing Steve Riggio.The bookseller said that Riggio will be actively involved with the company and will stay on as vice-chairman.Lynch has been president of Barnes & Noble’s website since February last year and ...
-
News
South Africa Woolworths launches own-label range
Woolworths has launched an own-label range called Woolworths Essentials.The range features core products across all food departments, as well as household cleaning products and toiletries. Launched in mid-March, the offer will grow to almost 200 items by the end of May 2010. The products will sell at prices up to ...
-
News
Trius appointed Carrefour Europe executive director
Vicente Trius has been appointed Carrefour executive director for Europe.Taking responsibility for Belgium, Spain, Italy, Poland, Greece, Cyprus and Romania, the 52-year-old Spaniard will start work on May 3.Trius has previously spent 15 years working at Walmart, where he was vice-president of international operations for Latin America.James McCann, the former ...
-
News
Praktiker reviewing store network
DIY retailer Praktiker is reviewing its store network, retail trade magazine Lebensmittel Zeitung reported.The aim of the review, part of the Praktiker 2013 project, is to optimise the profitability of the network, after sales and earnings have repeatedly fallen below expectations in recent years. The focus seems to be mainly ...
-
News
Metro Group sales down 3.6%
Metro Group has reported a 3.6% sales decrease to €65.5bn (£59bn) in 2009.EBIT before special items declined 8.9% to €2.02bn (£1.82bn). In Germany, group sales declined 0.6%, while overseas sales declined 5.5%adjusted for negative currency effects, international sales increased 0.7%. In Asia and Africa, sales increased 4.8%. The group has ...
-
News
Rewe Group sales up 2.7%
Germany’s second-largest grocer Rewe Group generated group sales of €50.9bn (£45.4bn) in 2009, up 2.7% on the previous year.The growth was mainly achieved through acquisitions and expansion, as store numbers climbed 5% to 15,453 outlets. In Germany, sales grew 2.6%, while overseas operations grew 2.9%.The Penny discount division, present in ...
-
AnalysisIs management shake-up just the start for Metro?
Metro Group has announced a shake-up of its leadership and unveiled a new corporate logo ahead of its 2009 results conference.
-
NewsHalfords to pull out of central Europe
Motor accessories specialist Halfords is to shut its fledgling central European business after recessionary conditions set back expansion opportunities.
-
AnalysisIs Blockbuster springing into action too late?
The latest financial results from Blockbuster make for grim reading. For the year ending January 3, 2010, losses at the US-based video rental giant widened from $374m (£204m) in 2008 to $558m (£358m).
-
NewsPolice launch race probe into Walmart store announcement
Police have launched a race hate investigation after the broadcast of an announcement in a Walmart store ordering black people to get out.
-
News
Jerónimo Martins sales up
Jerónimo Martins increased sales by 6.1% to €7.3bn (£6.5bn) in its 2009 financial year.Net profit at the grocery retailer soared 22.8% to €200.3m (£178.6m).Jerónimo Martins attributed the performance to strong competitive market positions and a clear focus on increasing productivity together with greater scale in sourcing.
-
News
Mercadona sales up to £13.8bn
Mercadona has reported gross sales of €15.5bn (£13.8bn) for its 2009 financial year - up 0.8% on the year before.Net income declined 16% to €270m (£240.7m).The grocery retailer invested about €600m (£534.9m) in the business over the year, opening a further 74 stores to take its total to 1,264 supermarkets ...
-
AnalysisUS department stores see benefits of discount shops
The recession has breathed new life into US off-price clothing chains as consumers look for thrifty ways to shop without compromising on style.