All International articles – Page 242

  • News

    US retail sales rose by more than expected in October

    2009-11-20T00:00:00Z

    Retail sales rose by more than expected in October, largely due to a resurgent car market.Sales rose 1.4%, rebounding strongly after a revised 2.3% decline in September, according to figures from the Commerce Department.The increase was driven almost entirely by higher auto sales in October as demand returned following a ...

  • Peter Gold
    News

    Retailers target Europe for low-risk expansion

    2009-11-20T00:00:00Z

    Retailers are still keen to expand internationally despite the recession, although most are focusing on the more mature Western European markets to limit risk.

  • News

    Dollar General floats on the New York Stock Exchange

    2009-11-20T00:00:00Z

    Dollar General, the value retailer backed by private equity house KKR, floated on the New York Stock Exchange last week.KKR still controls 89.5% of Dollar General, which would be valued at $7.7bn (£4.6bn), based on the $716m (£427.8m) raised in the IPO.The retailer has been one of the winners in ...

  • Debenhams
    News

    Debenhams buys Danish chain to extend presence

    2009-11-20T00:00:00Z

    Department store operator Debenhams last week bought Danish department store group Magasin du Nord for £12.3m, providing a bridgehead into Europe.

  • Opinion

    Bundlebox.com

    2009-11-20T00:00:00Z

    In theory, the internet should enable a global retail market. In practice, of course, the cost and complexity of international payments and fulfilment logistics have limited cross-border retailing.

  • diane_wang_cutout.jpg
    Opinion

    Build bridges with Chinese suppliers

    2009-11-20T00:00:00Z

    Despite economic growth signalling the end of recession, UK retail sales have frequently been flat against the same periods last year, indicating that a proper recovery will take more time.

  • News

    RT Mart to launch flagship store in Beijing

    2009-11-20T00:00:00Z

    Auchan subsidiary grocer RT Mart is to launch a flagship store in Beijing – its first in the city.The grocer, which is based in Taiwan, is fitting out the store at present and will be located in the city’s Chinatown Shopping Plaza.Auchan also recently announced plans to step up expansion ...

  • Walmart
    Analysis

    Range rationalisation bears fruit at Walmart

    2009-11-20T00:00:00Z

    Walmart’s third-quarter results indicate that Project Impact, the five-year strategy calling for improved layouts and reduced inventory, has begun to bear fruit.

  • News

    Costco highlights Asia as key growth region

    2009-11-20T00:00:00Z

    Warehouse club operator Costco has highlighted Asia as a key growth region.In Japan, Taiwan and South Korea, Costco said it has the capacity to trade from 100 stores.In Australia, where it opened its first store in August, the warehouse club operator believe it can reach 20 stores. As a result, ...

  • News

    Woolworths and Lowe’s win final approval to jointly set up hardware stores in Australia

    2009-11-20T00:00:00Z

    Woolworths and Lowe’s, the US’s second largest home improvement chain, have won final approval to jointly set up big hardware stores in Australia, acquiring domestic hardware wholesaler Danks Holdings to act as their supplier.The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission said it allowed the takeover to go ahead after Woolworths and ...

  • News

    Ahold on hunt for targeted acquisitions again

    2009-11-20T00:00:00Z

    Ahold is on the hunt for targeted acquisitions again.The retailer’s E2.6bn (£2.3bn) cash pile and very low debt levels – net debt stands at about E1.16bn (£1.03bn) – mean it can now pursue growth in new and existing markets.The retailer this month hired operational managers for its European and ...

  • News

    FamilyMart to acquire Am/pm Japan

    2009-11-20T00:00:00Z

    Convenience retailer FamilyMart is to acquire Am/pm Japan for ¥12bn (£80.1m) from parent company Rex Holdings.FamilyMart, Japan’s third largest convenience chain, plans to absorb Am/pm next year and will rebrand the stores over the next two years.The chain will be acquired in partnership with its main shareholder Itochu. The merged ...

  • News

    Sales at Shoppers Drug Mart increase 7.9%

    2009-11-20T00:00:00Z

    Sales at pharmacy chain Shoppers Drug Mart increased 7.9% to C$3bn (£1.7bn) in the third quarter, with the retailer continuing to experience strong sales growth in all regions of Canada.Excluding tobacco products, same-store sales climbed 4.8%. Prescription sales rose 9.7% to C$1.5bn (£856.4m) during the quarter, accounting for 49.1% of ...

  • News

    Abercrombie & Fitch reports net income drop of 39%

    2009-11-20T00:00:00Z

    Young-fashion chain Abercrombie & Fitch reported net income dropped 39% to $38.8m (£23.8m) in its third quarter.Net sales declined 15% to $765.4m (£468.9m) while comparable store sales were down 22%.At a divisional level, comparable store sales fell 18% at Abercrombie & Fitch, 22% at Abercrombie Kids, 26% at Hollister and ...

  • News

    Celesio reports a 2.9% fall in sales

    2009-11-20T00:00:00Z

    Healthcare and pharmaceutical company Celesio has reported a 2.9% fall in sales to E2.54bn (£2.26bn) at its Patient and Consumer Solutions division for the first nine months of this year.Growth in local currencies was 6.1%. The division’s EBITDA declined by 3.3% to E218.6m (£194.8m). In local currency terms, this corresponded ...

  • Dollar General
    News

    Dollar General makes NYSE debut

    2009-11-13T08:36:00Z

    US discount retailer Dollar General is today making its debut on the New York Stock Exchange in what is one of the most anticipated IPOs of the year.

  • Tesco: will anchor new malls in China
    News

    Tesco joint venture to build malls in China

    2009-11-13T08:28:00Z

    Tesco is to build three shopping malls in China after forming a property joint venture with local partners.

  • News

    October like-for-like sales paint negative picture in US

    2009-11-13T00:00:00Z

    The round of October like-for-like sales showed a generally negative picture as consumer confidence continues to struggle in the US. Of the few positive results, most came from retailers operating at the top and bottom of the market. Upmarket department store chain Nordstrom, for example, reported a 6% lift in ...

  • News

    Lidl teams up with Nabtaaler Milchwerke to launch private-label lines

    2009-11-13T00:00:00Z

    Discounter Lidl has teamed up with Bavarian dairy company Nabtaaler Milchwerke to launch Lidl’s first regional private-label lines. Lidl has been selling Bavarian long-life milk for some time in some regional divisions to support dairy farmers in the federal state. The discounter registered the trademark “Ein gutes Stück Heimat” - ...

  • News

    Otto plans to expand its Russian operation

    2009-11-13T00:00:00Z

    Mail order giant Otto intends to expand its Russian operation after acquiring the Russian subsidiary of bankrupt rival Arcandor’s Quelle division. Otto, which already considers itself market leader in Russia, is acquiring the rights to the Quelle brand, as well as some sub-brands and its internet domains in Germany and ...