ASDA launches environmentally friendly household paper range
In the UK, Asda has unveiled a new exclusive range of environmentally range of household paper products under the 'Naturally Soft' brand. The range - which comprises toilet tissue, kitchen towels and facial tissues - is made of 100% recycled paper and is manufactured by SCA Hygiene exclusively for Asda Stores Ltd.
| read more ASDA adds to financial services offer
In the UK, Asda has added to its financial services offer through the launch of an online savings account at www.asdafinance.com. The account claims to offer an interest rate higher than that available from Sainsbury's, ING Direct, Barclays and Tesco.
| read more BOOTS opens in Abu Dhabi
Boots has recently opened its first store in Abu Dhabi at Al Wahda mall. This new move highlights Boots' growing presence in the region and is aimed at providing shoppers in Abu Dhabi with the largest selection of health and beauty products under one roof.
| read more CARREFOUR has bid for Migros Türk
According to unconfirmed reports at the end of last week, Carrefour has made an initial bid for Migros Türk. Earlier last week, Carrefour Sabanci stated that it had not bid for the retailer.
| read more CARREFOUR predictions on 2007 Argentina sales
Carrefour's Argentine unit has said that it expects sales to rise 35% this year as consumer spending fuels the country's economy. The forecast for 2007 sales of USD1.9 billion, which is higher than originally expected, comes as the company is investing USD284 million to increase the number of stores in Argentina to 180 from 150 by the end of next year.
| read more CHEVRON will not develop Chevron branded petrol stations in South Africa
In response to rumours in the local media, Chevron has announced that it will not be developing Chevron branded petrol stations in South Africa in place of the existing strong Caltex branded network.
| read more Wesfarmers boss calls for COLES Kmart name change
In Australia, Wesfarmers chief executive Richard Goyder has indicated a name change for Coles Group's general merchandise chain Kmart. The company has announced it will conduct a strategic review of Kmart after the Supreme Court formally endorses its takeover of Coles on November 23.
| read more COSTCO Canada to sell solar power kits
ICP Solar Technologies has partnered with Costco Canada to introduce the Coleman solar power kit in selected stores in spring 2008. "Our partnership with Costco Canada provides an important high quality distribution partner for reaching Canadian consumers," said Sass Peress, CEO of ICP.
| read more COSTCO offers electronic recycling programme in USA
In the USA, Costco has launched a recycling programme that rewards customers for recycling old electronic equipment such as PCs, LCD monitors, digital cameras, camcorders, game systems and MP3 players.
| read more New marketing man at FAMILY DOLLAR
In the USA, Family Dollar has announced that it has named Donald G. Smith to the position of Vice President - Marketing. Mr. Smith will report to Robert George, Executive Vice President and Chief Merchandising Officer.
| read more H.E. BUTT launches two new credit cards
In the USA, H-E-B has teamed up with Chase Card Services to roll out two new credit cards: the H-E-B Chase MasterCard and a private label H-E-B credit card.
| read more HY-VEE to open for business in Wisconsin
In the USA, Hy-Vee plans to open a store in Wisconsin, its first new state since entering Kansas nearly twenty years ago. The retailer's first Wisconsin store will be located on the site of a former Kmart in Madison.
| read more New merchandising man at JIM PATTISON Overwaitea Food Group
According to the Canadian Grocer, Blendle (Scotty) Scott has been named vice president of merchandising at Jim Pattison owned Overwaitea Food Group. He succeeds Dan Hudson.
| read more KROGER ratifies new labour contract in Virginia
In the USA, UFCW Local 400 in West Virginia has ratified a new contract with Kroger. Effective immediately, the four-year agreement covers 3,250 associates who work in 41 Kroger stores in West Virginia, Ohio and Kentucky.
| read more M&S offers Take That Beautiful World CD
In-store marketing agency bezier has produced 200 instore units for Universal Music to promote the special edition of Take That's 'Beautiful World' Limited Edition Tour CD and Bonus DVD in Marks & Spencer stores.
| read more MEIJER wins environmental excellence award
The US Environmental Protection Agency SmartWay Transport Partnership has awarded Meijer an Environmental Excellence Award for its leadership in conserving energy and lowering greenhouse gas emissions from its transportation and freight activities.
| read more KONZUM holds largest share in Croatia
According to data recently released by the national Competition Agency in Croatia (AZTN), Konzum held the largest share in the consumer goods retail market in the country last year, followed by Rewe, Kaufland, Getro, Mercator, Plodine and Kerum.
| read more METRO keeps options open for Extra
A Metro spokesman said at the end of last week that the company is considering all strategic options for its Extra supermarket chain, "The sale is one of the options." He declined to comment on market rumors that a sale of the supermarkets could happen by the end of this year.
| read more MOSMART revamps management structure
In the second half of this year, Russian retailer Mosmart has significantly revamped its management structure and has taken on experienced top managers from Russia, Poland and Hungary.
| read more RELIANCE RETAIL to open jewellery outlets
In India, Reliance Retail is planning to enter into jewellery retail by setting up Reliance Jewel stores. The company aims at launching its first store this month offering gold, diamond, platinum and silver jewellery.
| read more Tchenguiz prepares another assault on SAINSBURY
According to unconfirmed reports in the Sunday press, property entrepreneur Robert Tchenguiz is preparing another assault on Sainsbury following the collapse of the deal last week led by Qatari backed fund Delta Two.
| read more SEARS Canada lowers prices
Sears Canada has announced that it is continuing to pass on benefits of the higher Canadian dollar to its customers and lowering prices across the store in addition to previously announced reductions.
| read more SHOPKO confirms new store look
In the USA, Shopko has confirmed that several Shopko stores will be getting a brand new look. "You always have to stay fresh, the customer demands that," said Mike MacDonald, Shopko chairman and chief executive officer.
| read more SPAR (AUSTRIA) interested in Plus/Zielpunkt
SPAR (Austria)'s interest in acquiring Tengelmann's discount banner Zielpunkt/Plus seems to have emerged. According to unconfirmed reports in the local press, the retailer might buy Tengelmann's Austrian discount operations in the very near future and has already made an offer for around EUR100 million (USD139 million).
| read more SPAR Española's new expansion plan
Spanish retailer SPAR Española has started an expansion and modernisation plan for the next five years. It intends to open 50 new outlets each year and to revamp as many as possible to the standards of SPAR International.
| read more SYSTEME U takes on Pricer ESL system
Système U has signed an agreement with Toshiba France for the delivery of the Pricer ESL system to 11 Système U stores (hypermarkets and supermarkets) in the south of France.
| read more TESCO to expand Express format in Ireland
According to reports in the Irish press, Tesco plans to open at least three of its Express c-stores in Dublin and one in Westmeath before the end of this year.
| read more TESCO Fresh & Easy agreement for household demographic data
In the USA, Tesco Fresh & Easy's real estate site research and analysis team is to use MicroBuildT a household geo demographic product from The Gadberry Group, a location-based services and information provider.
| read more WEGMANS tests new tea bar
As reported by Supermarket News, Wegmans is testing its first ever tea bar at a store in Pittsford, N.Y. "Nestled between our pharmacy and Nature's Marketplace [department], we've created a one-of-a-kind destination for customers to experience tea as they never have before," Lynne Freeman, Wegmans' employee communications director, said in a video posted on the company's website.
| read more WILKINSON further extends private label range
In the UK, Wilkinson has further expanded its private label portfolio, this time introducing a range of cycling accessories under the Wilko name. The new range is available instore and through the www.wilkinsonplus.com home shopping service.
| read more AMAZON customer vote blog returns
Following the success of the "Customers Vote" promotion run in 2006, Amazon will repeat the promotion this year. The promotion entails customers voting on the discounts they would like to receive for particular products, with consumers having the chance to purchase various products at highly discounted prices, for example an Xbox 360 Core for USD100.
| read more BLOCKBUSTER CEO plans strategic transition
Blockbuster CEO Jim Keyes further laid out his strategic vision that transitions the company from a rental service to a retail one by stocking its stores with devices like mobile phones and video game consoles, while adding digital downloading kiosks that feed into these technologies.
| read more BORDERS adds TVs to its bookstores
Borders has announced a new strategy that will reinforce the message that its stores are not just about books: the company has been installing 37-inch flat-screen televisions to show original programming, advertisements, news and weather.
| read more BORDERS selects CyberSource for eCommerce payment management
Borders has announced that it has entered into an agreement with CyberSource. Under the terms of the agreement CyberSouce will provide bank card and "Bill Me Later" payment processing and fraud protection services for the forthcoming Borders.com website, which is scheduled to launch in early 2008.
| read more TRANS WORLD ENTERTAINMENT CEO plans buyout
Trans World Entertainment has received a USD5 per share, non-binding proposal from Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Robert J. Higgins, the company's largest shareholder, to acquire outstanding shares of the company that Higgins doesn't already own.
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