News

Retail and consumer goods industry news

05 November 2013
Performance figures reported by Marks & Spencer for the first half of 2013/14 (26 weeks to 28 September), show total group sales up 3.6% to £4.9bn.  While its international division continued to outperform on +8%, the core UK business nevertheless grew at 3.1%, underpinned by a like-for-like uplift of 0.7%. Still contrasting fortunes for UK food and GM Sales in M&S' traditional flagship GM ca...
05 November 2013
UK fixed price discounter, 99p Stores is reported to have launched a trial to use direct to store delivery for chilled and fresh products by Nisa, in order to scale up the temperature controlled range in its stores.  The trial will focus on core grocery products such as milk, bread, cakes, fruit and vegetables. Builds on existing Nisa relationship 99p Stores has been a member of the retail co...
05 November 2013
Dollar General has announced the promotion of Todd Vasos to the role of Chief Operating Officer with responsibility for store operations, merchandising and supply chain. His former role as Chief Merchandising Officer has been filled by David D’Arezzo, who most recently held the role of Chief Operating Officer at Grocers Supply. Enhancing the management structure These appointments come at a ...
04 November 2013
According to press reports, Poundland, the UK's leading single price discount retailer is planning to float on the stock market and has appointed Rothschild investment bank to handle the process.  The company is currently owned by US private equity investor Warburg Pincus. Valuation between £700 - £800m expected Poundland, along with other UK discounters, has been growing quickly in recent y...
04 November 2013
A series of key retail developments in China over the last month will reshape the competitive landscape: we assess the latest news from the grocery market’s movers and shakers. A new phase of consolidation Out of the haze of speculation around potential partnerships in China’s grocery market, two key deals have emerged in the last few weeks. Firstly Tesco’s joint venture with China Resource...
04 November 2013
Costco has launched its e-commerce site in Mexico, offering 3,800 products, the majority - 80% - of which are only available online. Extend reach into new cities and gauge demand Costco has 34 stores in 19 Mexican states and hopes the site will not only reach new locations. It also hopes to determine, via the levels of demand for online shopping, which areas it should be looking to move ...
01 November 2013
The Co-operative has today launched its Christmas marketing campaign which focuses on the retailer's local strengths and its improved and extended festive food range. Focus on localness and new ranges Using the strapline "Relax, Christmas is just around the corner" the advertisements highlight the retailer's convenient store locations as well as showcasing its festive food offer, including pro...
01 November 2013
Poundland, the UK's leading fixed-price retailer, has cut prices to 93p in its Ipswich store to undercut a special offer from 99p Stores. Reactive pricing Poundland's aggressive pricing strategy in its Ipswich store is in response to the opening of a new 99p Stores close by. 99p Stores ran an introductory offer of all items at 94p or less for the first week of opening, as it looked to pu...
01 November 2013
The UK's fourth largest grocer Morrisons has recruited a senior manager from Australian retailer Coles to strengthen its management team ahead of its fast approaching online grocery launch. New online operations director According to the Financial Times, George Dymond, a former group general manager at Coles will join Morrisons in January as operations director and be responsible for t...
01 November 2013
DIA has officially unveiled the name under which it will rebrand the drugstores acquired from German retailer Schlecker: Clarel. Transforming 1,130 stores in Spain and Portugal DIA will begin remodelling the stores in mid-November. The new format will focus on personal care ranges, household and cleaning products. It will exclusively stock the Bonté private label brand, alongside bran...