English news 16 novembre 2007

EDEKA to acquire Plus discounters

As reported by several German media this morning, Edeka is to acquire the Plus discount network from Tengelmann in a transaction involving nearly 3,000 outlets in Germany and potentially around 1,000 stores in foreign markets. | read more

A&P buys Best Cellars to boost beer, wine and spirits sales

In the US, the Tengelmann-owned Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company (A&P) has acquired Best Cellars, described by the company as a "New York City-based retailer renowned for merchandising Great Wines for Everyday by flavour rather than origin, and at reasonable prices". | read more

AEON proposes more business ties with CFS

In a move to oppose the plan by Japanese drugstore chain CFS to be taken over by Ain Pharmaciez, AEON has proposed boosting business ties with the retailer. | read more

AHOLD appoints John Rishton as chief executive

Ahold has announced this morning that it has appointed John Rishton as President and Chief Executive Officer. Mr Rishton has been President and CEO since July, when he took over from Anders Moberg. | read more

BP to sell US sites in two year period

BP has announced that it is planning to sell off more than 700 company stores in the US. BP Retail has announced that sale of all of its company-owned, company-operated locations, turning most of the sites over to franchisees. | read more

Mestdagh interested in CARREFOUR stores in Belgium

According to unconfirmed reports in the Belgian press, local group Mestdagh is interested in acquiring certain of the sixteen GB supermarkets threatened with closure by Carrefour on the 1st January next year. | read more

CENCOSUD eyeing Gigante in Mexico

According to unconfirmed reports in the local press, Chilean group Cencosud is considering the acquisition of Mexican retailer Gigante. Through the acquisition Cencosud would not only enter the Mexican market but also the US market as Gigante has nine superstores in Los Angeles, California. | read more

CVS focus on integrating recent acquisitions

Speaking at the Reuters Health Summit, CVS chief executive Thomas Ryan said that the drugstore chain is focused on integrating recent acquisitions instead of looking for new stores to purchase. | read more

FOZZY agreement with Kit in Ukraine

As reported by RetailStudio.org, Fozzy Group has entered an agreement with the supermarket chain Kit, which operates 24 stores in the Zaporizhia region (Eastern Ukraine). | read more

ITM launches premium private label in France

In France, ITM has introduced a 230 new premium private label range called " sélection gourmande". The products are identifiable by a gold disk in the centre of the Mousquetaires logo reinforced over black. | read more

LOBLAW converts 60 stores to on-shelf availability programme

As part of the company's Fix the Basics initiative, Canadian retailer Loblaw has converted 60 stores to its new on-shelf availability programme. According to Loblaw, stores that have fully implemented the programme are achieving improvements in availability and are now meeting the company's expectations. | read more

LOBLAW third quarter results

Loblaw has reported that In the third quarter ending 6 October sales increased by 1.4% to CAD9,137 million (USD8,869.9 million). Same-store sales increased 2.8% over last year, excluding the impact of decreased tobacco sales. | read more

PANTALOON to spin off sports business

In India, Pantaloon Retail yesterday announced that its board has decided to spin off the sports business of its joint venture Planet Retail Holdings into a separate entity. | read more

PANTRY FY results

In the USA, The Pantry has announced financial results for the fiscal year ended September 27, 2007. Total revenues rose 15.9% to USD6.9 billion. Merchandise revenues rose 13.7% while retail gasoline sales increased 15.6%. | read more

RELIANCE RETAIL launches first jewellery store in India

In India, Reliance Retail has launched its first jewellery store 'Reliance Jewel' in Bangalore. The store offers gold, diamond, platinum and silver jewellery. | read more

REWE Penny opens in Sicily

Rewe Group's discount banner Penny Market is shortly expected to open its first store in the island of Sicily. Up until now, Penny only had stores in the Puglia region in the Mezzogiorno (the south of Italy). | read more

SAFEWAY launches Foodflex

In the USA, Safeway plans to launch an online tool that will allow loyalty cardholders to view the nutritional content of past purchases. "Foodflex helps them take a look at the foods they bring home for their families and make changes as they are necessary," Safeway spokeswoman Teena Massingill said in a recent interview with Supermarket News. | read more

SAFEWAY may look at new formats

As reported by Supermarket News, Safeway's chief financial officer has reiterated that the company would consider developing new formats once it has completed upgrading its store base to the Lifestyle concept over the next two years. | read more

SEDMOI KONTINENT nine month profit rise

According to reports in the Russian press, Sedmoi Kontinent has reported that net profit for the first nine months of the year rose by 3.32% to RUB1.480 billion (USD58.4 million) as calculated under Russian Accounting Standards. | read more

SOMERFIELD ties up with Simply Coffee

In the UK, Devon based Simply Coffee has been chosen by Somerfield to provide fresh bean-to-cup drinks at 100 of its petrol station forecourts across the country. | read more

TESCO launches curry sandwich

Tesco is to launch a "curry" sandwich in stores in the UK this week. Tesco claims its new recipe is the first supermarket sandwich to combine curried chicken with rice, raitha and mango chutney. | read more

TUSKYS extends shopping hours

Kenya's second largest retailer Tuskys has extended shopping hours for three of its stores in Nairobi and its suburbs. Starting this week, Tuskys Eastland in Buru Buru shopping centre, Tuskys Ongata in Ongata Rongai shopping centre and Tuskys Imara in Nairobi's central business district will be open for business until 10.00pm. | read more

UTILITY STORES faces supply shortages

In Pakistan, Utility Stores Corporation (USC) is facing supply shortages. According to unconfirmed sources, the shortage has been owing to the price discrepancy between the commodities available at USC outlets and the ones on the open market. | read more

WALGREENS considers slowing store opening pace

Speaking at an investors conference this week, the chief executive of US drugstore chain Walgreens, Jeffrey Rain, indicated that the retailer is considering slowing its pace of store openings in a bid to boost earnings. | read more

WAL-MART publishes first "green" report

Wal-Mart Stores yesterday published its first report on the environmental and social sustainability drive the retailer launched just over two years ago. | read more

WOOLWORTHS confirms 08 outlook/acquisitions on the radar

Speaking at the shareholders' annual meeting, the chief executive of Australian group Woolworths, Michael Luscombe, has reaffirmed the retailer's sales and earnings guidance for 2008. | read more

AMAZON to launch electronic book device

According to reports in the local media Amazon has announced plans to introduce its highly anticipated electronic book device. The device, which has been dubbed "Kindle" is likely to be released before the end of November. | read more

CARPHONE WAREHOUSE launches concierge service with Nokia

Carphone Warehouse has joined forces with Nokia to launch an exclusive concierge service in Ireland. The exclusive new Nokia Concierge Card provides access to a variety of different services, for example travel planners, personal shoppers and home maintenance services, however the full details are yet to be confirmed. | read more

EDION'S H1 revenues rise

Japanese electronics retailer Edion has announced its results for the first half of 2007. The company said that its net income was JPY4.29 billion (USD37 million) for the six months ended September 30. | read more

GOME confirms launch of Gome Mobile

According to local Chinese press reports, GOME has officially launched a new banner, Gome mobile, as it looks to expand in the Chinese mobile phone business. | read more

HARVEY NORMAN management changes

Harvey Norman has announced that Rutland Smith, general manager of computers, has stepped down from the position to become the computer franchisee at the company's Gold Coast store in Bundall. | read more

HMV looks to attract gamers into new areas

HMV has announced it has teamed up with Gamerbase.com to create PC multi-player gaming areas in the retailer's larger UK stores. The first, boasting 80 linked PC terminals, will open in the HMV store in the Trocadero Centre in London's Piccadilly Circus. | read more

JESSOPS links in-store printing kiosks with online printing centre

Jessops will be the first photographic retailer in the UK to link in-store photo printing kiosks to its online photo printing centre, Jessops Picture House, located at www.jessops.com. | read more

KOIJMA sees profit fall in H1

Japanese electronics retailer Kojima has announced its financial results for the first half of 2007. The company said that revenues for the six month period rose slightly to JPY254.91 billion (USD216 million) from JPY224.25 billion (USD1.9 billion) in H1 2006. | read more

OFFICE DEPOT offers printing solutions to businesses

In the US, Office Depot has announced that it is trying to help businesses leverage the "Power of Colour" through its advanced colour printing solutions available at Office Depot retail locations nationwide. | read more

STAPLES launches marketing campaign for the festive period

In line with the festive period, Staples is launching a new multi-vehicle marketing campaign under the banner "That Holiday was Easy." Starting on November 18, the company will introduce new TV, radio, online and direct-mail advertising. | read more

STAPLES is sued by Access Copyright

Access Copyright, which represents almost 9,000 Canadian writers and publishers, is suing retailer Staples/The Business Depot for copyright infringement, claiming CAD10 million (USD9.7 million) in damages over unauthorised photocopying by store customers. | read more

SUNING may merge with DAZHONG

According to reports in the local media, Suning will hold a shareholders meeting in December 2007, at which the decision to merge with Dazhong will finally be made. | read more

YAMADA DENKI expands in Tokyo's Akihabara district

Yamada Denki has announced that it will in mid-December make its first foray into Tokyo's Akihabara district, internationally known for its high concentration of electronics shops. | read more