English news 15 novembre 2007

ASDA to extend online service to entire UK by end 2008

The chief executive of Asda, Andy Bond, yesterday announced that the retailer plans to make its online food shopping service available to the whole of the UK bfore the end of 2008. | read more

AHOLD ICA Norway facilities management deal

According to reports in the Norwegian press, facility management company NEAS has won an agreement, valued at NOK15 million (USD2.6 million) annually, to operate 138 properties across the country owned by Ahold owned ICA. | read more

ASDA prices lower for Christmas

According to research published by Asda, its shoppers can save up to 30% on their festive food bill by shopping there. The Asda shopping basket - which included products such as Christmas puddings, crackers, mince pies and Champagne - comes in at a cost of GBP75.04 (USD151.46), a "huge difference" when leading competitors fall between GBP82.94 (USD167.41) and GBP107.87 (USD217.73). | read more

ASDA boss says co-operating with OFT

The chief executive of Asda in the UK, Andy Bond, yesterday said that the retailer is co-operating fully with the Office of Fair Trading over dairy price fixing allegations, "We are working with the Office of Fair Trading," he told reporters at a briefing, "as are all of our competitors." Bond dismissed the suggestion that Asda alone was talking with the regulator. | read more

CARRFOUR makes initial bid for Migros Türk

In Turkey, Sabanci has made a preliminary bid jointly with Carrefour for retailer Migros Türk, it said in a statement to the stock market. "On November 5th, 2007, Carrefour and Sabanci Holding jointly made a non-binding preliminary offer for a 50.83% controlling stake in Migros." It said Carrefoursa, the two firms' Istanbul-listed joint venture, would be the acquiring entity if the bid was successful. | read more

CBA Asset Management Bulgaria IPO

CBA Asset Management, who manages the CBA supermarkets in three cities in the northeast of Bulgaria, has announced the bid range for its IPO which takes place this week. | read more

DOLLAR TREE Direct launches e-commere site

In the USA, Dollar Tree has launched the e-commerce facility for its recently announced Dollar Tree Direct bulk buying service at www.dollartreedirect.com. | read more

EMPERIA third quarter results

In Poland, Emperia Holding has announced its Q3 financial results. The turnover amounted to PLN1,206.7 million (EUR318.6), up 341% as a result of the acquisitions carried out in 2006 and 2007. | read more

GIANT EAGLE relaunches website

In the USA, Giant Eagle has relaunched its website, adding more personalised features such as shopping lists, recipes, and a shopping history. The new site asks shoppers to log in using their Giant Eagle Advantage Card details. | read more

IKI finds potential buyer/considers IPO

According to unconfirmed reports in the local press, shareholders in Lithuanian retailer IKI have found a potential buyer for the operation and are also considering the possibility of an IPO. | read more

KATZ Rexall offers new solutions for drug adherence

Katz owned Rexall is introducing new solutions - Rexall Reminder and Rx Ready - to help address the problem of drug adherence and assist Canadians in better managing their prescription medications. | read more

LONGS DRUGS third quarter results

In the USA, Longs Drugs Stores has reported preliminary income from continuing operations for the third quarter ended October 25, 2007 of USD19.3 million, an increase of 45%. | read more

OBI picks new advertising agency

Tengelmann-owned DIY chain OBI has signed up advertising agency Jung von Matt as its new partner for brand communication and advertising after picking the agency from a group of applicants also including DDB Berlin, Scholz & Friends and Vasata Schröder. | read more

PANTALOON plans move into media and entertainment business

In India, Future Group is planning to enter into the media and entertainment business. The group is aiming at setting up a home shopping channel, television programmes, FM radio stations and specialised magazines. | read more

RELIANCE RETAIL difficulties in meeting floor space targets

According to a company source, Reliance Retail is facing difficulties in meeting its ambitious targets of occupying 929,368 million square meters of retail space by 2010/11. | read more

METRO to increase product sourcing from India

According to reports in the Indian press, citing the managing director of Metro's local cash & carry unit, Martin Dlouhý, the retailer's buying group is planning to expand the range of products it sources from the country, "We plan to source food products like nuts, spices, fruits and vegetables, basmati rice and dairy products, among others..." Currently, Metro only sources non-food items such as apparel, leather products and linen from India. | read more

REWE Howeg to raise prices

Rewe Group-owned HoReCa supplier Howeg in Switzerland has informed its business customers about upcoming price increases due to higher prices for raw materials and the strength of the euro. | read more

SEIYU sells stake in PTS

In Japan, Wal-Mart owned Seiyu is selling its stake in travel subsidiary PTS Corp to JTB Corp who already holds a 70% stake in the business. The purchase price is estimated at JPY300 million (USD2.6 million). | read more

SUNOCO trials digital instore GSTV

In the USA, Sunoco has announced that it will launch an IP-based digital in-store pilot programme from GSTV at select stations to provide a fully integrated, media destination to target on-the-go consumers. | read more

TESCO Fresh & Easy opens in Las Vegas

Tesco Fresh & Easy yesterday opened its first five stores in the Las Vegas area after opening its first six stores in the USA in southern California last week. | read more

TESCO IT boss steps down

After six years, Tesco's IT director Colin Cobain is stepping down to look for a "new challenge". Cobain is leaving at the end of November after leading the IT implementation behind Tesco's first US stores. | read more

WAL-MART to open 3,000th international store

Wal-Mart has reported that it will soon celebrate the opening of its 3,000th international store, a Wal-Mart Supercenter in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Since opening its first international store in Mexico in 1991, the Wal-Mart International Division has grown to become a USD77.1 billion business that, standing alone, would rank as the world's fifth largest retailer in terms of sales revenue. | read more

WAL-MART Changomas performs well in Argentina

Commenting on Argentinian operations during its Q3 results, Wal-Mart stated that its new format in Argentina - Changomas - has continued "excellent performance with sales well above initial plans." Additionally, Wal-Mart confirmed that it has purchased three Auchan locations, noting that "this acquisition will compliment our current operations and build our market share in the strategic Buenos Aires market." The former Auchan hypermarket sites were owned by Spanish construction company San Jose. | read more

WAL-MART Canada trading update

Alongside Wal-Mart's Q3 results, the retailer provided an update on trading in Canada, particularly with regard to its new Supercentre chain. During Q3, Wal-Mart Canada opened 10 new Supercentres, comprising two new-builds and eight discount store expansions, bringing the total number of Supercentres to 17. | read more

WAL-MART agreement with Pollo Campero in USA

Campero USA has announced a new tenant/landlord relationship with Wal-Mart. The US division of Pollo Campero, the largest Latin American chicken restaurant chain, will begin opening Pollo Campero restaurants in US Wal-Mart stores beginning in 2008. | read more

BEST BUY selects SAP for international operations

Best Buy has announced that it has selected SAP to provide the core enterprise resource management (ERP) platform, as well as SAP for Retail solutions for specific retail functionality, for its international and emerging businesses. | read more

CIRCUIT CITY and Kodak launch 'Find the Next firedog' contest

In the US, Circuit City and Kodak are launching a nationwide search to find a dog to star in a TV commercial for Circuit City's firedog services unit. | read more

COURTS partners with Dell in Singapore

Dell has announced an exclusive partnership with Courts, one of the largest electronics stores in Singapore. According to a Dell representative, the reason for moving its products to the retail front is so as to capture first-time PC buyers. | read more

COURTS reports profits for H1 FY 07/08

Courts has reported net profit of SGD1.78 million (USD1.17 million) for the first half year of fiscal 2007, turning around losses of SGD3.1 million (USD1.9 million) in the same period last year. | read more

HDS to sell Virgin France stake

Walter Butler, head of French buyout group Butler Capital Partners, has said that he is negotiating to buy roughly a 75% stake in retailer Virgin France Group from Lagardère. | read more

HH GREGG slides into net loss in Q2

HH Gregg has reported that net sales for the three months ended September 30, 2007 increased 21.1% to USD287.9 million from USD237.7 million in the same period last year. | read more

HMV interested in buying Music World stores in Canada

Music World, the last Canadian-owned national music store chain, which owns 72 stores, is under bankruptcy protection and will close its stores, the latest victim of a rapidly changing music business. | read more

MOVIE GALLERY receives final approval of debtor-in-possession financing

Movie Gallery has announced that the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Richmond Division has granted final approval of its USD150 million debtor-in-possession (DIP) credit facility. | read more

OFFICE DEPOT names Maguire executive VP of merchandising

Office Depot has named Kim Maguire executive vice president of merchandising. The retailer said Maguire previously worked at QVC as executive vice president and chief merchandising officer. | read more