News

Retail and consumer goods industry news

08 January 2014
Total Group sales grew 13.6% to JPY 7.2tn (USD 68.8bn), while operating income saw a 15.1% increase to JPY 249bn (USD 3.4bn) at the end of the third quarter of the year. Continually driving growth in convenience A combination of an expanding store network (net increase of 920 stores in first nine months) and the continuation of healthy same store sales (+1.8%) has helped Seven-Eleven Japan...
08 January 2014
Netherlands-based Ahold has announced new initiatives to drive further growth in online grocery retailing in its home market and in the US. Retailer builds scale through Pick Up Points Ahold announced that it added its 120th Pick Up Point by the end of 2013, as part of its global target to triple online food sales by 2016. The majority of the points are in the US and co-located with its brand...
07 January 2014
Conviviality Retail, the owner of Bargain Booze has appointed a new chairman. Appeal to more upmarket shoppers The retailer has announced David Adams, who spent five years at Jessops as executive chairman and then chairman is due to take up the role at the end of the month. Conviviality trades over 600 stores mainly under the Bargain Booze fascia with a geographical bias towards the north of ...
07 January 2014
Walmart de México y Centroamérica has reported 3.1% growth, in sales for 2013, with fourth quarter sales up 3.5% on the previous year. Mixed performance in Mexico and Central America Sales in Mexico were up 3.3%, but like-for-likes decreased by 1.3% compared to the previous year. Fourth quarter performance was similar, with sales up but like-for-likes down. In Central America, both like-f...
07 January 2014
Key regional UK supermarket chain, Booths has revealed like-for-like sales up 6% in the three key festive trading weeks from 15th December to 4th January.  The retailer has traditionally traded strongly at Christmas, and this year targeted festive sales with its biggest ever campaign to encourage shoppers to trade into its unique premium offering. Significant growth in pre-ordering S...
07 January 2014
In France, Carrefour has acquired seven stores from Système U Sud, while in  Poland it is extending its forecourt cooperation with oil company Lukoil,  according to reports. Strengthens franchise business in France The 15 stores have left the Dujean Holding Group, one of Système U Sud's franchisees. They comprise a 7,000 sq m hypermarket in Sérignan and six Super U supermarkets, ranging fr...
07 January 2014
Coop Schweiz has revealed a 1.7% increase in retail turnover for 2013, against a background of persistent price cuts and strong competition. Overall group sales, including wholesale and production operations, were up 0.8%. Achieves milestone in organic product sales Coop reported that actual growth for the retail division, taking into account price cuts of around 0.4%, was 2.2%. Price cut...
07 January 2014
Migros' online operation, LeShop.ch, has reported an increase in turnover of CHF8.6m, or 6%, for 2013. Around one in three orders now placed from a mobile device Turnover rose over all four consecutive quarters in 2013, to reach CHF158.1m. The share of mobile orders has gone up to 32%, from 23% in 2012, with tablets used for around half of mobile orders. LeShop.ch's chief executive, Domini...
07 January 2014
Both Aldi and Lidl have revealed that they had a spectacular Christmas with record sales figures putting pressure on the UK's traditional supermarkets. Aldi enjoys busiest Christmas ever While both discounters have declined to reveal actual sales figures, Aldi has said that 2013 saw its 'busiest Christmas since opening in the UK' - over 20 years ago - with a record number of customers. Pr...
06 January 2014
Asda has reported a 'good performance in-store and online' across the festive period and also launched new year price cuts to differentiate more on value.  Shoppers respond to low price focus Against a background of heavy vouchering across the grocery sector, Asda 'held its nerve' and opted for a simple everyday low pricing strategy. Asda's investment in both price and quality was r...