All articles by Planet Retail – Page 3
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News
German wholesale group Conway purchases Grupoil
German wholesale group Lekkerland-owned convenience chain Conway has taken over Spanish wholesaler Grupoil. The acquisition is in line with a strategy of strengthening Lekkerland’s traditional core business.The purchase will enable Lekkerland to further establish itself in the Spanish convenience sector.
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Hypermarket group Leclerc pilots new distribution approach
Hypermarket group Leclerc is piloting a new distribution approach in Croix, northern France.A 48,400 sq ft rented warehouse is being used to fulfil orders for three different collection points as part of its Drive concept.In the central distribution centre, 8,000 SKUs are stored in four temperature zones. Employees pick orders ...
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German hard discounter Aldi Süd opens nine stores in Texas
German hard discounter Aldi Süd opened nine stores in Houston, Texas last week.The retailer wants to open 30 new shops over the next two years, investing more than $125m (£81.5m) in the Houston Metro area.The launch extends Aldi’s Texan presence, which is focused on the Dallas/Fort Worth district, which it ...
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French retailer ITM plans to open petrol stations in Poland
French retailer ITM (Intermarché) plans to open petrol stations in Poland operated independently of its stores.ITM already has two pilot petrol stations in the country and plans another five this year.Rival retailer Leclerc is also said to be mulling opening petrol stations in Poland that may be used as collection ...
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Amazon China to link with convenience store operator FamilyMart
Amazon China is linking with convenience store operator FamilyMart on a payment and collection service for customers in Shanghai.Around 100 pick-up points will be introduced initially, covering most areas of the city and mainly in stores that are open 24 hours. The scheme could potentially be extended if successful. Amazon ...
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X5 Retail Group reports net sales increase
X5 Retail Group has reported sales of RUB126.3bn (£2.63bn) in its first quarter ended March 31, an increase of 8.1% year on year.The increase in net retail sales was driven by additional store space, price inflation, the positive performance of maturing stores added over the past two years and promotions. ...
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Rakuten signs up to MasterCard's new digital wallet service
Japanese ecommerce business Rakuten has signed up to MasterCard’s new digital wallet service,MasterPass, for its US site.Customers will be able to use the service to buy online or via their mobile using stored payment credentials. Those using the service will receive additional promotions to encourage repeat visits.Roger Andelin, president and ...
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Albert Heijn introduces economy private-label line
Dutch grocery retailer Ahold’s domestic Albert Heijn division has introduced an economy private-label line called AH Basic. The retailer is gradually replacing its Euro Shopper own-brand with the new line.According to Ahold, the quality of AH Basic products is more consistent than those in the Euro Shopper range and, as ...
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Hudson's Bay Company pushes ahead with reinvention
Canadian department store group Hudson’s Bay Company is pushing ahead with its reinvention and merchandising plans. The retailer plans to introduce five further Topshop shop-in-shops and, by next year, an outlet of US-based Kleinfeld Bridal salon at its Toronto flagship.“We’re searching around the world for fantastic concepts that we can ...
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ICI Paris XL acquires Dutch competitor Pour Vous
AS Watson’s Belgian perfumery chain ICI Paris XL has acquired Dutch competitor Pour Vous. ICI Paris XL plans to complete the deal within one month and is taking over the brand as well as the store network.The deal follows ICI Paris XL’s acquisition of LVMH’s Dutch Sephora stores.“We intend to ...
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Darty to close loss-making Spanish stores
Darty is closing its stores in Spain. The retailer is cutting off the loss-making arm as it plans to focus on its more successful stores in France, Belgium and the Netherlands.All 43 Spanish stores will be closed by June at an estimated cost of E30m (£25.5m).
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JC Penney's chief executive Ron Johnson ousted
JC Penney’s chief executive, former Apple Retail boss Ron Johnson, has been ousted and replaced by his predecessor at the US department store group, Mike Ullman.In the year to January 28, JC Penney turnover plummeted 25% to $12.98bn (£8.5bn) and the retailer amassed nearly $1bn in losses.Johnson had been attempting ...
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Whole Foods Market to build commercial-scale greenhouse
Whole Foods Market is to build a commercial-scale greenhouse on top of one of its stores.The retailer will build a 20,000 sq ft rooftop greenhouse above its new store in the Gowanus neighbourhood in Brooklyn, New York. The project will be in partnership with urban greenhouse specialist Gotham Greens.Produce grown ...
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Central Retail to invest in domestic expansion
Central Retail will invest Bt1bn (£22.3m) in its domestic expansion this year.The cash will be used to open 12 to 15 shops under the Tops Market, Tops Super and Central Food Hall banners and 50 Tops Daily convenience stores.The company will also upgrade its IT and its customer relationship management ...
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Carrefour's Greek franchisee to host shop-in-shops
Carrefour’s Greek franchisee, Marinopoulos, is to host shop-in-shops in partnership with electricals retailer Dixons’ Kotsovolos business.To begin with, the partnership will be implemented in three Carrefour hypermarkets in the Athens area - at Alimos, Gerakas and Marousi, which is due to open later this month.
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Target appoints Stuart Machin as managing director
Former Sainsbury’s and Asda director Stuart Machin has been appointed managing director of Australian department store group Target.Machin, who has been stores development and operations director at Australian grocer Coles since 2008, will replace Dene Rogers who has stepped down for personal reasons.Machin played a key part in the turnaround ...
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OfficeMax launches small-format store
OfficeMax has launched a small-format store called OfficeMax Business Solutions Center.The initiative follows the retailer’s strategy of consolidating its big-box office supplies shops into smaller, more interactive stores.The first Business Solutions Center opened in Milwaukee. The store will offer tailored services and products, catering to the needs of small businesses. ...
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Otto Group to expand ecommerce operations
Otto Group is to invest E300m (£255.2m) in the expansion of its ecommerce operations over the next two years, according to managing director Rainer Hillebrand.The retailer aims to increase online revenues from E5.7bn (£4.8bn) in 2012 to E8bn (£6.8bn) in 2015.A key project is a new online brand, dubbed Collins, ...
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Grand Frais to open first store outside domestic market
French fresh products wholesaler Grand Frais is to open its first store outside its domestic market, in Belgium. The shop is in Messancy, close to the French and Luxembourg borders.It will sell a wide range of fresh fruit and vegetables, dairy products, meat and seafood.Grand Frais operates about 130 stores ...
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Inditex closes Syrian stores due to ongoing civil war
Inditex has closed all of its Syrian stores because of the ongoing civil war.The retailer had opened two Zara stores, two Massimo Dutti shops, a Pull & Bear and a Stradivarius since entering the country in 2009.The franchise agreement with its local partner remains in place, suggesting the retailer might ...