News

Retail and consumer goods industry news

12 March 2013
Chilean convenience retailer OK Market plans to almost quadruple store numbers by 2017, according to local press. Operated 90 stores at end 2012 OK Market began operating in 2002 and has build a presence in the regions of Metropolitana, Valparaíso and Los Ríos.  By the end of 2012 it had grown to 90 stores and, according to the report, aims to reach 300-340 by the end of 2017.  It targets sal...
11 March 2013
Boots is today launching its first range of healthy, ‘ready meals’ under its lunchtime Shapers brand. Expansion of food offer The offer becomes available today within 100 Boots stores throughout London and across major commuter sites. The Shapers evening meal selection offers 27 new options with prices from £1.25 including main meals, warm salads,  vegetable accompaniments and desserts. The...
11 March 2013
Tesco has launched a new coupon-at-till price comparison system that refunds the difference to shoppers if products could have been bought for less at its main rivals. Significantly, the new scheme covers both branded and private label products, and builds on trials of the couponing technology in Northern Ireland. Own brand and promotions included Distinctively, the new Tesco Price Promis...
11 March 2013
Dairy Farm reported sales of USD 9.8bn for full year 2012, an increase of 7% year-on-year, with mixed fortunes across its operating markets. Overview of performance in 2012 Dairy Farm's overall performance was positive in an increasingly challenging trading landscape. Decline in underlying profit was attributed to accounting errors in its Malaysian operations - adjusted figures showed an...
08 March 2013
Catalan retailer Bon Preu grew sales by 6.5% in 2012, thanks to five new store openings. Positive result given economic conditions Bon Preu's turnover reached €752m in 2012, as it increased store numbers to 157.  Like-for-like sales growth was flat.  Catching up with Condis Bon Preu is catching up with fellow Catalan retailer Condis Supermercats , which reported turnover of €801m in ...
08 March 2013
Aldi Süd in Germany is centralising the purchasing of all its fruit and vegetables through an extended buying team at its Mülheim office, reports Lebensmittel Zeitung. Following Aldi Nord The new model will mirror the process already being used at sister company Aldi Nord. While Aldi Süd began purchasing some all-season produce centrally two years ago, it will now be extending this proc...
08 March 2013
As part of its 2012 results announcement, in which it revealed a 7% increase in gross revenue, Mercadona said it is temporarily postponing international expansion in favour of focusing on the development of a sustainable agri-food chain.  Focus on developing a sustainable agri-food chain Mercadona reported a 7% increase in gross revenue for 2012, to €19,077m, and net profit of €508m, al...
07 March 2013
Sales at the John Lewis Partnership increased by 9.3% to £9.5bn in the year to January 26 2013, driven by a strong sales uplifts at both Waitrose and John Lewis.  Impressive performance from Waitrose Waitrose gross sales were ahead by 6.7% at £5.7bn. LFLs (excl. petrol) increased by 3.4%, with an acceleration in the second half, as the impact of significant investment in lowering prices was...
07 March 2013
Carrefour revealed solid full year sales of €76.8bn, a 0.9% increase year-on-year, but there's hard work ahead to drive growth in 2013. Reducing its debt by divesting of operations in non-core markets and seeing more than three-fold increase in net profit to €1.23bn marks the start of a new strategic phase for the retailer. Improvements in the domestic market In France Carrefour delive...
07 March 2013
Target, one of the largest US retailers, has marked its international debut by opening its first three stores in Canada. This is likely to have a  significant impact on the highly competitive Canadian retail sector, but the biggest effect is likely to be noticed by general merchandise retailers, given Target's reputation for excellence in this area. Two years in the making The opening of Ta...