WAL-MART launches banking operations in Mexico
Wal-Mart's Mexican subsidiary Walmex yesterday said that it expects to end the year with 16 bank branches and plans to open another 60 branches in 2008.
| read more ASDA sustainability programme on track
As reported in Retail Week, Asda has revealed that its sustainability programme is on track to deliver GBP120 million (USD242.2 million) of costs saved or avoided over the next five years.
| read more CARREFOUR goes it alone in India
Carrefour reportedly plans to enter the Indian market by setting up a wholesale business, after failing to reach an agreement with local companies regarding a partnership.
| read more CASINO launches new range of individual frozen ready meals
In France, Casino has launched a new range of individual frozen ready meals. The range is called "recette sucrée salée" and currently comprises two items of international recipes.
| read more CELESIO DocMorris reaches store network targets early
Celesio's DocMorris subsidiary will have built up a network of 100 German franchise pharmacies by the end of November, reaching a goal initially set for year-end, the head of DocMorris Ralf Daeinghaus has told Financial Times Deutschland.
| read more CELESIO nine month results
Celesio has this morning reported that nine month net profit edged up 1.7% to EUR320.2 million (USD444.4 million). Pretax profit in the first nine months advanced 2% to EUR451.8 million (USD577.1 million).
| read more Wesfarmers boss reiterates COLES Kmart sale unlikely
The chief executive of Wesfarmers in Australia, Richard Goyder, has once more reiterated this morning that the company is unlikely to sell the Coles owned Kmart chain, "I think it's highly unlikely" we would sell Kmart, Goyder told CNBC television.
| read more COSTCO sells AT&T Wireless services in US
In the USA, AT&T has teamed up with Costco to sell its AT&T Wireless services through nearly 370 Costco outlets across the country. "Through our new agreement, we're able to deliver wireless customers even greater benefits, greater rewards and a new standard of convenience -- all at once," said Glenn Lurie, president, National Distribution for AT&T's wireless division.
| read more DOHLE interested in acquisition of half of Rewe Toom stores
Dohle is reportedly interested in acquiring half of Rewe Group's ailing Toom hypermarket operations in Germany. As Lebensmittel Zeitung reports, Schwarz Group's Kaufland is also interested in several outlets.
| read more D&S and FALABELLA present more arguments for merger
According to reports in the local press, two new reports have been presented by D&S and Falabella, as part of their merger process, to the Tribunal de Defensa de la Libre Competencia, the body who is analysing the deal.
| read more EDEKA Südwest supports expansion plans with new distribution centre
To support its expansion strategy for the Rhein-Main region, German co-operative retailer Edeka Südwest (South West) has started operations in a new distribution centre in Heddersheim.
| read more H.E. BUTT gives away reusable bags
In conjunction with Recycling Day, Texas based H-E-B is giving away a non-woven polypropylene carrier bag to each shopper who brings in five plastic bags.
| read more HY-VEE sells prepaid mobile phones
In the USA, Hy-Vee has begun selling prepaid mobile phones at all of its stores. The service, provided by Fusion Mobile, costs from USD20 to USD200 and includes various features such as rollover of unused minutes, free unlimited nights and weekends, free domestic long-distance, voicemail, caller ID and three-way calling.
| read more PETROBRAS close to acquiring Exxon assets in South America
According to unconfirmed reports in the local press, Brazilian Petrobras is close to acquiring ExxonMobil's downstream assets in South America and has offered USD900 million, beating a bid from Chevron.
| read more PICK 'N PAY in major branding and innovation campaign
South African retailer Pick 'n Pay has announced a major ZAR110 million (USD15.4 million) investment over the next two years which will entail the rebranding of 400 stores and the phasing in of more than 450 new or repackaged lines.
| read more SCHUITEMA claims strong sales increase through RFID
Ahold owned Schuitema has extended its deployment of RFID technology at returnable plastic containers for fruit and vegetables. According to the Dutch newspaper Het Financieele Dagblad the use of RFID has increased sales by 10% to 12% in this range.
| read more SCHWARZ gives up on Basic acquisition
Schwarz Group is to give up on its attempt to buy the organic foods retailer Basic, selling its 9% stake it acquired earlier this year. "The customers have won.
| read more New merchandising man at SHOPKO
In the USA, Shopko has announced the appointment of W. Paul Jones to the position of President and Chief Merchandising Officer. Jones will be responsible for the direction of all merchandising and marketing activities of the retailer.
| read more SUPERVALU Sunflower Market in talks with Macy's over outlet
According to the Chicago Tribune, Macy's is holding talks with SuperValu owned Sunflower Market to open an outlet in the department store chain's basement.
| read more TESCO revamps online fashion marketing
According to reports in the UK marketing press, Tesco has revised its online fashion marketing with the launch of the Save in Style programme. The Save in Style email has adopted a magazine style format and contains catwalk news, essential buys, customer reviews, fashion trends and tips.
| read more TESCO unveils vision for future website developments
As reported by Retail Week, Tesco.com has hinted at some of the developments it is planning to make to its website in order to keep up with changing consumer demands.
| read more WALGREENS installs Kiva Mobile Fulfillment System in DC
Kiva Systems, a developer of mobile robotic solutions for the dynamic storage, movement and sortation of inventory, has announced that US drugstore chain Walgreens has installed Kiva's Mobile Fulfillment System to expand split-case picking in its Mt Vernon, IL, distribution centre.
| read more X5 RETAIL negotiates in Ukraine over pre-leases
In Ukraine X5 has been negotiating with XXI Century Investments Public, an Ukrainian real estate investment and property management company, about pre-leases in its Kvadrat shopping centres.
| read more China bans time limited sales promotions after Carrefour stampede
Following a deadly stampede at a Carrefour hypermarket in China's southwestern Chongqing Municipality over the weekend in which three people died and 31 were injured, the country's Ministry of Commerce yesterday issued an urgent circular banning time-limited sales promotions.
| read more AMAZON takes its Marketplace to France
Amazon in France has launched "Marketplace", offering customers the opportunity to buy and sell used products, and new collectibles from the same page as new products.
| read more AMAZON Video Reviews let customers see products in action
Amazon has announced the launch of "Customer Video Reviews," enabling customers to use video to share their opinions and demonstrate the use of products on Amazon's website.
| read more AMAZON launches price guarantee
With the Christmas season just around the corner, Canadian Amazon has announced a price guarantee on all book titles available through the website. If a customer finds a book for less on another Canadian website, Amazon will refund the difference.
| read more BARNES & NOBLE selects SaaS provider AMTdirect to control its real estate
Barnes & Noble has teamed up with SaaS provider AMTdirect to manage all of its real estate holdings. AMTdirect pioneered a SaaS (Software as a Service) web-based solution to help companies save significant amounts of money and improve the life-cycle management of real estate assets.
| read more CARPHONE WAREHOUSE considers new fascia
According to reports in Retail Week, Carphone Warehouse is considering introducing a new fascia as it develops a new generation of stores in response to the dramatic switch towards wireless technology.
| read more CIRCUIT CITY extends agreement with JP Morgan Chase
Circuit City has announced that it has extended its credit card agreement with JPMorgan Chase, the financial services company that provides consumer financing and rewards through the Circuit City Rewards and Circuit City Rewards Visa cards.
| read more FNAC Portugal update on store openings
French electronics and entertainment retailer Fnac has announced plans to raise its investment in the Portuguese market by EUR17.5 million (USD24.2 million) until the end of 2011.
| read more HMV and PLAY.COM trial film downloads
In the UK HMV and Play.com have announced they are launching film download services in the next six months as retailers look to take control of the embryonic market.
| read more JESSOPS campaign shifts from price
Jessops has launched a brand campaign that will focus on images rather than price for the first time, as part of a GBP1 million (USD2 million) brand overhaul.
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