News

Retail and consumer goods industry news

01 February 2013
Russian retailer, Maria-Ra, has announced its results for 2012 and is confident about the forthcoming year 32.7% revenue increase Maria-Ra has reported sales of RUB 40.8bn for 2012 which represents a 32.7% increase compared to last year. Consumer traffic also increased by 1.1% and the average basket spend grew by 8.3%. The retailer opened 132 new stores over the year, bringing its total s...
01 February 2013
Waitrose has announced Jackie Wharton as the new convenience director, replacing Diana Hunter. 15 years experience at Waitrose Following the announcement of Diana Hunter leaving to take up the role of chief executive of Bargain Booze, Waitrose has today announced  Jackie Wharton as its new convenience director.  Wharton has worked at Waitrose for 15 years, most recently as director of c...
31 January 2013
With online, convenience and discount becoming ever more popular channels for shoppers, we explore how retailers are working to boost sales through large format stores.  In the year to April 2013, we expect sales through large format stores (25,000 sq ft and over) to grow by 0.7%, far below the 2.9% for the grocery market as a whole. Shoppers increasingly turning to alternative channels and the ...
31 January 2013
Sainsbury's is to launch "What's Cooking? From the Sainsbury's Kitchen,"   a daily lunchtime cookery show on Channel 4. Recipes for all budgets and tastes The programme will show viewers how to prepare dishes from scratch ingredients that "suit every budget and taste" and provide a high profile opportunity to showcase Sainsbury's products alongside other ingredients. The programme will be pr...
31 January 2013
Slovenia-based Mercator has continued to expand its range of private labels in Serbia, adding 300 new products. The company said that more than half of the new products have been developed in conjunction with local manufacturers. Four new lines added Mercator said that four new lines had been added, including Mercator Bio (organic products), Active Life (meets nutritional claims), minutes (re...
31 January 2013
Finland's largest retailer, S Group has released a healthy set of results for 2012, seeing year-on-year sales grow by 5%, reaching €12bn. Finnish consumers more price conscious Grocery retail sales grew positively, increasing 7.4% to €6.7bn, which includes sales across its Prisma, S-Market, Sale and Alepa banners. CEO of SOK, Kuisma Niemel ä commented, "Our grocery sales developed accordin...
31 January 2013
Trade press reports have confirmed that Musgrave Retail Partners GB is launching a loyalty card scheme for its Budgens retailers.  Under the title 'Love Local', the card will enable shoppers to collect points for donations to community projects within their neighbourhoods. Trial launched in three stores The new loyalty scheme is to be trialled initially from 1st February by three Budgens re...
31 January 2013
Woolworths has released half year sales for the 27 weeks to the 30 December up 3.2% to AU$30,679m, with sales for continuing operations up 4.8% to AU$30,037m. Its supermarket division continues to grow well with sales up 3.7% to AU$26,194m. Australian Food and Liquor shows steady progress Australian Food and Liquor sales for the half were up 4.7% to AU$20,488m, with like-for-like (LFL) ...
31 January 2013
Gérard Dorey, Carrefour's executive director for convenience, reveals development plans for 2013 in an interview with a French trade publication. Plans 350 new stores this year Speaking to Franchise Magazine, Mr Dorey said Carrefour opened 330 stores under the new City/Contact/Express/Montagne group of fascias in 2012.  It reached 1,000 with the opening of a Carrefour Contact on 4th...
31 January 2013
CP All, operator of 7-11 in Thailand, will apply for a license to open stores in China, ahead of market entry in Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. Whilst helping Seven & I maintain its dominant position in the convenience format, the move will intensify competition in key Asian markets and present new opportunities for suppliers.  Asia's position in Seven & I's global strategy In line wit...