English news 21 novembre 2007

AHOLD third quarter earnings beat estimates

Ahold has this morning announced third quarter earnings. Operating income was EUR255 million (USD354 million), EUR44 million (USD66 million) higher than last year. | read more

ALDI launches online photo development service in Switzerland

Just two weeks after the start of its mobile phone offer in Switzerland, Aldi Süd has launched an online digital photo development service under www.aldi-suisse-photos.ch. | read more

AUCHAN targets 22 cities in Romania for expansion

According to reports in the Romanian press, citing the managing director of Auchan's local unit, Regis Mougel, the retailer is targeting 22 cities in the country with more than 100,000 inhabitants by 2010 and will continue to launch larger sales areas in its hypermarkets in order to compete with direct rivals, 'We will continue to expand with large-scale hypermarkets, because this what we specialise in. | read more

BJ'S WHOLESALE CLUB third quarter results

In the USA, BJ's Wholesale Club has reported net income of USD22.7 million for the third quarter of 2007, compared to net income of USD18.3 million in Q3 2006. | read more

CARREFOUR identifies three names for Indian JV

In a recent interview, Carrefour India managing director, Herve Clec'h, has said "We have identified three potential companies for joint-venture in India, and will choose one in the first quarter of 2008." He hinted that the potential partners could be from the financial, retail or real estate sectors. | read more

Mexican anti-trust agency approves CENCOSUD bid for Gigante

According to sources in Mexico, the country's anti-trust commission has authorised Chielan retailer Cencosud to bid for local retailer Gigante. The latter said earlier this month that it is considering strategic options including asset sales, mergers, and alliances. | read more

COSTCO DC plan in Maryland approved

In the USA, the Frederick County Planning Commission has conditionally approved a site plan for Costco's second distribution centre in Maryland. The 48,774-square-metres DC is to be developed on 84 acres in the Intercoastal Industrial Park near New Market. | read more

COUCHE-TARD second quarter profit fall

Alimentation Couche-Tard yesterday reported that its second quarter net profit fell by 27% to USD54.2 million. The company blamed the profit decline on the retreat of motor fuel margins from USD0.20 a gallon in the year-before quarter to USD0.13 a gallon in the just-finished quarter. | read more

DM Austria remodels stores

In Austria, drugstore retailer dm has refurbished 250 of its stores to feature a separate area especially dedicated to men, named 'men's world'. The area includes shaving articles, health & beauty as well as skin care products. | read more

EDEKA to stop company owned stores in Denmark

According to reports in the Danish press, Edeka has decided to stop running shops on its own as it is aiming to make independent grocers take over the stores. | read more

EL CORTE INGLES opens Ferial Plaza shopping centre

In Spain, El Corte Inglés has opened the Ferial Plaza shopping centre in Guadalajara, Castilla-La-Mancha region. The new development includes an El Corte Inglés department store and a Hipercor hypermarket. | read more

New DC for KROGER in California

In the USA, Kroger has signed a deal for a new distribution centre in California. The 51,283-square-metres site in Paramount (near Los Angeles) will serve the 369 Ralphs and Food 4 Less stores in the region. | read more

METRO Canada names new boss

Canadian group Metro has announced that Eric Richer La Flèche will become the company's new CEO, effective April 1, 2008. La Flèche has been Metro's Chief Operating Officer since January 2005. | read more

PLUS Austria attracts further interest

According to unconfirmed reports in the Austrian press, the sale of Tengelmann owned discount operation Zielpunkt/Plus has attracted the interest of a local investor group. | read more

SAFEWAY wins California Governor's 2007 Environmental Award

In the USA, Safeway has been announced as the winner of the Governnor's Environmental and Economic Leadership Award (GEELA) in California for the company's strong initiatives in promoting green business practices and implementing significant environmental initiatives throughout its operations. | read more

SAFEWAY encouraged to give purchasing preference to suppliers with good animal welfare standards

Animal rights organisation PETA has filed a shareholder resolution with Safeway, encouraging the grocer to give purchasing preference to suppliers that use or adopt controlled-atmosphere killing (CAK) which is, according to PETA, the least cruel form of poultry slaughter available. | read more

TARGET third quarter results

US discounter Target has reported that total revenues for the third quarter ended November 3, 2007 increased 9.3% to USD14.835 billion from USD13.570 billion in 2006, reflecting a 3.7% increase in comparable-store sales combined with the contribution from new stores and credit card operations. | read more

TRADEKA Euromarket installs electronic price label system

In Finland, the world's first commercial installation of an electronic price label system based on UPM Ella e-paper, has been introduced in the Lahti Euromarket hypermarket owned by Tradeka. | read more

WALGREENS Take Care opens 100th clinic

Take Care Health Systems, one of the largest managers of convenient care clinics and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Walgreens, has celebrated a major milestone by opening its 100th clinic, with new clinics debuting in Miami, FL, Orlando, FL, Tampa, FL, and Tucson, AZ. | read more

WEIS MARKETS appoints new head of perishables

As reported by Progressive Grocer, Weis Markets has promoted Harry Giglio from his current role of vice president, meat, seafood and deli to vice president of perishables. | read more

WHOLE FOODS Q4 boosted by Wild Oats

Whole Foods Market has reported financial results for the 53 weeks ended September 30, 2007, which include five weeks of performance from the recently acquired Wild Oats Markets. | read more

China launches monthly reports on farm prices

The Chinese Ministry of Agriculture yesterday announced that it would issue monthly reports on agricultural produce prices to increase "market transparency and offer guiding information for farmers. | read more

WILD OATS stores to be converted to WHOLE FOODS

After much speculation about the future of the Wild Oats brand, Whole Foods Market has confirmed plans to eventually convert the stores to the Whole Foods banner. | read more

A&R WHITCOULLS cleared by commerce commission to buy BORDERS

In New Zealand the commerce commission has cleared A&R Whitcoulls to acquire 100% of the shares in Borders New Zealand. Commission chair Paula Rebstock said the body was satisfied the proposed acquisition would not have, or would not be likely to have, the effect of substantially lessening competition in any of the relevant markets. | read more

AMAZON Kindle sells out in one day

Amazon's new digital reader, the Kindle, has sold out in one day. Appearing on US television to discuss the device, CEO Jeff Bezos said "In five and a half hours, we were sold out of our initial inventory." Orders placed after that time period have been tagged with a November 29, 2007, shipping date. | read more

BARNES & NOBLE swings into third quarter net profit

Barnes & Noble has announced sales and earnings for the third quarter ended November 3, 2007. Sales for the third quarter increased 5.7% to USD1.2 billion. | read more

BORDERS reports like-for-like sales increase in Q3

Borders has reported that its sales for the third quarter of 2007 were USD805.2 million, up 5.3% on Q3 2006. Comparable store sales increased in all business segments for the second consecutive quarter. | read more

CIRCUIT CITY empowers consumers with innovative approaches to shopping

Circuit City has announced that it will be using technology from Pluck, a social media solutions company, to power its new CityCenter Community, a social-shopping destination on CircuitCity.com filled with people sharing their questions, photos, ideas and preferences on the best in home entertainment, computers and electronics. | read more

DSG switches to Blue Sheep

DSG International has announced it has switched to Blue Sheep after nine years with its incumbent data and services provider. Following an intensive pitch, the contract worth over GBP750,000 (USD1,379 million) will cover customer analysis, products and services. | read more

DSG embeds SpareBackup Software in its private label PCs

SpareBackup has announced that DSG International has agreed to embed SpareBackup software in its private label PCs from the start of the first quarter of 2008. | read more

FNAC France to open four stores in one day

In its home market, French entertainment and electronics retailer Fnac, will open four stores in Paris on the 30th of November. The stores will be located in Villebon, Gennevilliers, Creil, Herblay and will follow the new out-of-town store concept the retailer has launched last year. | read more

GAMESTOP reports record third quarter 2007 results

GameStop has announced record financial results for the third quarter ended November 3, 2007. Total sales increased 59.3% to USD1,611.2 million in comparison to USD1,011.6 million in the prior year quarter. | read more

GOME's third-quarter earnings surge

GOME has announced third-quarter net profit nearly doubled from a year earlier thanks to new stores and China's booming consumer-electronics market. Chen Xiao, president of China's largest electronics retailer by revenue, said in a teleconference that he expects same-store sales and revenue to continue to rise, fuelled by strong demand in China for new homes, which boosts sales of electronic appliances. | read more

OFFICE DEPOT third quarter profit disappoints

Office Depot has announced third quarter results for the fiscal period ended September 29, 2007. Sales increased 2% to USD3.9 billion in Q3 2007. Sales in its North American Retail Division saw comparable store sales decrease 5% for the quarter, while its North American Business Solutions Division also reported a 3% sales decline. | read more

RADIOSHACK to pay USD8.8 million in settlement

RadioShack will pay about USD8.8 million in a class action settlement with current and former store managers who sought recovery of unpaid overtime wages. | read more

STAPLES launches data recovery services

Staples has announced an agreement with Seagate Recovery Services to provide data recovery services to Staples' customers throughout the US via its in-store EasyTech services staff. | read more

TRANS WORLD ENTERTAINMENT permits CEO to form bid consortium

Trans World Entertainment has announced actions by the Special Committee of the Board of Directors to permit the company's largest shareholder and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Robert J. | read more