English news 09 novembre 2007

ALDI introduces unit pricing in Australia

Aldi has reportedly become the first major grocer in Australia to introduce unit pricing, which means that in addition to the price of the product, the price for a particular unit of measure is also displayed. | read more

CELESIO to exercise option on Anzag shares

According to reports in Financial Times Deutschland, Celesio is planning to increase its stake in rival Andreae-Noris Zahn ( Anzag) through the purchase of shares which are currently held by Sanacorp, another rival, but for which Celesio has a pre-emptive purchasing right. | read more

CO-OPERATIVE Farms extends range grown in UK

As reported by Marketing Week, the Co-operative Farms has extended its food range with with the launch of a brand called "Grown by us, Britain's largest farmer". | read more

DELHAIZE Food Lion accepts American Express

Delhaize owned Food Lion and American Express have announced a card acceptance agreement at over 1,200 grocery stores (Food Lion, Bloom, Harveys, Bottom Dollar) throughout the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic United States. | read more

DENNER opens its second D-Vino wine bar in Switzerland

Swiss discount operator Denner, 70% owned by Migros, has opened its second 'D-Vino' wine bar. It highlights the company's focus on its range of around 200 wines globally. | read more

DOLLAR TREE third quarter sales rise

In the USA, Dollar Tree has reported that third quarter sales rose by 9.6% to USD997.8 million. Sales at stores open at least a year rose 1.9% in the third quarter, helped by higher spending per customer and strong Halloween and back-to-school sales. | read more

GIGANTE considers possible asset sale or mergers

Mexican retailer Gigante yesterday confirmed that it is considering strategic options, including asset sales, mergers and alliances, but has not yet made any agreements. | read more

KROGER launches plastic recycling campaign

In the USA, Kroger has launched a major plastic recycling programme at its Central Division that will be fully operational by the end of November and will extend across the retailer by the end of the year. | read more

LOBLAW Real Canadian Superstore to scrap plastic bags

It has been announced that The Real Canadian Superstore located in Langford will be the first of Loblaw's larger banners to get rid of plastic bags at its checkouts. | read more

MAGNIT nine month profit rise

According to reports in the local press, Russian retailer Magnit has reported that net profit rose by 42% for the first nine months of the year to USD60 million. | read more

METRO could sell Extra stores by end of year

According to reports in Germany this morning, Metro is in advanced talks to sell its Extra supermarket chain and a deal could be completed by the end of the year. | read more

PATHMARK shareholders approve merger with A&P

In the US, the shareholders of hypermarkets and superstores operator Pathmark have approved the merger with Tengelmann-controlled A&P with a 73.9% vote in favor of the transaction. | read more

PETS AT HOME confirms IPO or sale

In the UK, Pets at Home, the Bridgepoint-owned pet chain, has confirmed it is considering a stockmarket float or sale of the business. Investment bank Rothschild has been appointed to advise on merger and acquisition options while Citi and JP Morgan will also act as joint bookrunners, should an inital public offering be given the go-ahead. | read more

PHARMACY CHAIN 36.6 nine months results

Russian Pharmacy Chain 36.6 has reported that consolidated sales for the first nine months of the year rose by 70.6% to USD592 million. Sales in the pharmacy segment rose by 81.6% to USD458.6 million. | read more

RELIANCE RETAIL launches footwear concept

In India, Reliance Retail has launched its footwear format Footprint in Hyderabad and Bangalore. The store will offer footwear brands like Reebok, Puma, Nike and Adidas and also private label brands like Mancini, Tosca, Viviana, Monza and Hi-Attitude. | read more

RITE AID marketing man to leave

US drugstore chain Rite Aid has announced that Mark Panzer, senior executive vice president and chief marketing officer, will leave the company. Panzer was responsible for merchandising, marketing and supply chain at Rite Aid. | read more

SAFEWAY celebrates 1000th Lifestyle opening

In the USA, Safeway has announced that it will celebrate the opening of its 1000th Lifestyle store, by hosting regional grand opening events in 13 market areas including Chicago, Honolulu, San Diego, San Francisco, Denver, Portland, Houston and Seattle. | read more

SEDMOI KONTINENT confirms restructuring

Russian retailer Sedmoi Kontinent has confirmed earlier reports that shareholder Alexander Zanadvorov has bought out partner Vladimir Gruzdev. The pair had each owned 50% of 7K-Invest Holding, which controlled 74% of the company. | read more

SUPERSOL signs agreement with Cherokee

Israeli retailer Supersol has signed a multiyear agreement with Cherokee that covers a wide range of categories including men's, women's, children's clothing, footwear, accessories, home and more. | read more

TARGET settles patent litigation with Katz Technology

In the USA, Ronald A. Katz Technology Licensing has announced that it has settled patent litigation with Target. As part of the settlement, Target has agreed to pay an undisclosed sum for a nonexclusive license under a comprehensive portfolio of patents that Katz owns relating to interactive voice applications. | read more

TESCO baited by Hunter over Dobbies Garden Centres

As reported in the Financial Times, retail entrepreneur Sir Tom Hunter has continued buying shares in Dobbies Garden Centres in the UK. After a battle between Sir Tom's West Coast Capital vehicle and Tesco, the latter launched a GBP155.6 million (USD314 million) cash offer earlier this year and gained 65.5% of Dobbies and control of the business. | read more

TESCO Mobile signs Yell as first advertiser

As reported in the UK marketing press, Tesco Mobile has signed up online directory service Yell as its first advertiser. Tesco Mobile launched in May and contains information about Tesco's products and services, as well microsites for major content owners including Disney, Sky Sports, Gameloft, Glu and EA Games. | read more

Presidential candidate calls on TESCO to negotiate community benefits agreement

In the USA, Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards has joined an alliance of community, faith, labour and political leaders in calling on Tesco to negotiate a community benefits agreement as the retailer opened its first six Fresh & Easy Neigborhood Market stores yesterday. | read more

THE WAREHOUSE first quarter sales slip

In New Zealand, The Warehouse Group has this morning reported that group sales for the first quarter ending October 28th were down 1.7% to NZD274.5 million (USD196.6 million). | read more

WALGREENS settlement agreement with Katz Technology

US drugstore chain Walgreens has entered into a settlement agreement with Ronald A. Katz Technology Licensing and licensed through its affiliate, A2D. | read more

BEST BUY planning 1,000 Best Buy Mobile concessions by 2009

Best Buy plans to have 1,000 Best Buy Mobile stand-alone and in-store shops installed throughout its chain by the end of 2009. The stores will feature an expanded assortment of handsets, accessories and services for multiple carriers, including AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon, and such mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) as Boost, Kajeet and Virgin. | read more

BLOCKBUSTER hones plans for the future

Blockbuster has said that it will test different models for pricing and store formats. Chief Executive Jim Keyes said that while raising prices could boost results almost immediately, he preferred to take an approach that was mindful of customers. | read more

CARPHONE WAREHOUSE sees earnings double

Carphone Warehouse has reported an 18% increase in first half revenues for the 26 weeks to September 29. Revenues rose to GBP2.14 billion (USD2.14 billion) from GBP1.81 billion (USD1.64 billion) the previous year. | read more

K'S HOLDINGS downgrades FY net profit

Japanese electrical retailer K's Holdings has decreased its full-year net profit forecast by 6.7% to JPY9.8 billion (USD85 million) after increasing its net profit by 60.5% to JPY4.2 billion (USD36.5 million) for the first half of 2007. | read more

MEDIA MARKT/SATURN to close online shop

In Germany, Metro Group-owned Media Markt and Saturn have discontinued their e-commerce activities at MediaOnline.de. Through this move, the electronics superstore chains are giving priority to their brick-and-mortar business over their e-commerce activities. | read more

YODOBASHI CAMERA opens distribution centre in Kobe

Japanese consumer electronics retailer Yodobashi Camera has opened its newly-built distribution centre at the man-made Rokko Island in Kobe, western Japan. | read more