News

Retail and consumer goods industry news

24 May 2013
Alliance Boots is to establish a new health and wellness business centre in Nottingham in collaboration with BioCity. New centre for start-up businesses Following initial discussions at the end of 2012, the health and beauty retailer has announced a collaboration with BioCity, a specialist in creating science business hubs, to establish Medicity, a new health and wellness business centre ...
23 May 2013
Leading UK wholesaler Booker has reported results for 2012/13, confirming sales up 3.5% to £3,992m, with operating profit up 12% to £99m.  Gross and operating margins both improved, rising to 4.0% and 2.4% respectively. These figures do not include any contribution from Makro, which, following competition clearance was finally consolidated within the wider Booker group as of 19th April. 2012/13 a...
23 May 2013
In the first quarter, China Resources Enterprise's (CRE) retail sales grew 7.3% to HKD 25.9bn (USD 3.3bn) and net profit declined 6.3% to HKD 252m (USD 32.5m). New store openings driving growth A leading grocery operator in the market, CRE's performance in the first quarter was robust, but represents a slow-down compared to its very strong start to the year in 2012. Retail sales growth of 7...
23 May 2013
In a year where Tesco has had to make some significant business decisions and laid down important building blocks for the future, we examine its Annual Report, as well as its newly renamed 'Tesco and Society' CSR report, pulling out our top findings and what this might mean for the retailer's future direction. A year where the business has got to grips with long-standing issues...
23 May 2013
Carrefour has announced that it has sold its 25% stake in its Middle Eastern joint venture to its partner in the region, Majid Al Futtaim (MAF), for €530 million. Sale includes ‘strengthening of exclusive partnership’ Carrefour said that at the same time as the sale of its stake in the joint venture, the two companies were also strengthening the existing exclusive franchise partnership by ‘...
22 May 2013
Abu Dhabi’s government has announced plans to upgrade independent stores under the ‘Baqala’ brand name. Step ‘in tune with Abu Dhabi’s Development Vision for 2030’ The new law will require independents to make their stores more appealing and shopper-friendly. It will specifically involve them adding security systems, cash registers, cooler boxes, clearly displayed prices, storage rooms, overh...
22 May 2013
In an interview with Emerce magazine the recently appointed general manager for AH.nl, Adriaan Thierry, discussed how the retailer was looking to grow online. ‘Changing shopper requirements to drive change’ Thierry said that changing shopper demands were driving change and leading to further integration between digital and physical stores, a step that was promoting the importance of logistics...
22 May 2013
Netherlands-based Coop Supermarkten, according to reports in Distrifood, will offer its Coop Online service from 60 stores by the end of 2013. Orders picked at store Commenting on the step, the retailer’s commercial director, Gerard King, said: “ Coop Online was set up by an active Coop entrepreneur and now we embrace the service as an organisation to offer it to more shoppers .” Orders are...
22 May 2013
East of England Co-operative society has reported a modest increase in LFL food sales and announced it is to re-brand its stores. LFL food growth The East of England Co-operative has reported sales fell by £11.6 million (-3.3%) to £335.1 million for the 52 week period ending 26 January 2013, with underlying trading profits down from £12.7 million to £9.7 million. The food business saw LFL...
22 May 2013
SPAR International has reported worldwide retail sales up 2.8% in 2012, and revealed its new strategy: "Growing our future together." International expansion has always been a strategic goal SPAR's new strategy builds on its long-term objectives. It sets out the strategic objectives for 2013-2015 under three broad headings: Growing our partners - Developing a multi-format presenc...