All International articles – Page 248

  • News

    CBD eyes up acquisition prospects

    2009-09-11T00:00:00Z

    Casino-owned retailer CBD is eyeing up acquisition prospects after receiving a BRL600m (£178m) funding injection.Brazilian bank Itaú Unibanco granted CBD the money after the bank sought to relax a consumer finance venture with the retailer. The bank, which has similar relationships with other Brazilian retailers, wanted to end exclusivity clauses ...

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    News

    Hollister to debut in Scotland with Aberdeen signing

    2009-09-11T00:00:00Z

    US fashion retailer Hollister is on the verge of signing for its first Scottish store at the new Aberdeen retail development Union Square.

  • News

    Auchan has signed an €800m loan

    2009-09-11T00:00:00Z

    Retail conglomerate Auchan has signed an €800m (£686m) loan after taking double the launch amount.Syndication proved to be straightforward for the supermarket group, which raised more than €1.3bn (£1.1bn) from the market. HSBC, Intesa, Sanpaolo, Natixis and Santander led the transaction.After being increased from €400m (£343m), lenders’ allocations were also ...

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    News

    Carrefour pins €600m on revitalising sluggish sales

    2009-09-11T00:00:00Z

    Recession-related despondency is being tackled at Carrefour with the launch of a new marketing campaign for its struggling French operations.

  • News

    China Resources Enterprise posted a 9.6% turnover increase

    2009-09-11T00:00:00Z

    Grocer China Resources Enterprise posted a 9.6% turnover increase to HK$18.98bn (£1.5bn) at its retail division for the first half ending June 30, although profit attributable to shareholders fell 27.7% to HK$276m (£21.8m).Managing director Chen Lang said: “We will continue to focus on our core businesses in order to solidify ...

  • News

    Family Dollar reveals a 2.6% net sales increase year on year

    2009-09-11T00:00:00Z

    Discount variety store operator Family Dollar posted results for the fourth quarter ending August 30, revealing a 2.6% net sales increase year on year to about $1.81bn (£1.1bn).Like-for-like sales for the same period increased 1%. Sales for the full year reached $7.4bn (£4.5bn), corresponding to 6% growth year on year ...

  • News

    Shoprite Holdings reports turnover jump

    2009-09-04T00:00:00Z

    Shoprite Holdings reported that turnover for 2008/09 jumped 24.5% to ZAR59.32bn (£4.68bn), with a 28.1% lift in profits to ZAR2.94bn (£231.9m).Most divisions reported growth, with the notable exception of furniture, which suffered from reduced demand in the face of rising unemployment and high interest rates. The group’s supermarket division ...

  • News

    Ikea intends to resume planning for expansion in Russia

    2009-09-04T00:00:00Z

    Furniture giant Ikea has said that it intends to resume planning for expansion in Russia. The change of heart comes after the retailer won a two-year bureaucratic battle to open a mall in the southern city of Samara.Head of Ikea Russia Per Kaufmann believes that the main stumbling blocks are ...

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    News

    Littlewoods launches European website to tap into expat market

    2009-09-04T00:00:00Z

    Shop Direct Group is gunning to grow its overseas business to 10% of its total sales after it launched its first international Littlewoods site last week.

  • News

    D&S results

    2009-09-04T00:00:00Z

    Wal-Mart’s Chilean subsidiary, D&S, reported second-quarter sales up 8.9% on the same quarter of 2008, with comparable sales also up, by 8.2%. Profit dropped 18.9% to CLP23.51bn (£26.2m).The retailer, which operates under a number of different formats such as hypermarket Hiper de Lider, said that most of the drop was ...

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    News

    Çilek to open third UK store

    2009-09-04T00:00:00Z

    Turkish bespoke children’s bedroom furniture and accessories retailer Çilek is to open its third UK store as it sets out expansion plans for the UK.

  • News

    Carrefour reports larger than expected loss

    2009-09-04T00:00:00Z

    Carrefour has reported a larger than expected €58m (£51.1m) loss in its first half, compared with a €747m (£655.7m) profit a year earlier.The grocer plans to spend as much as €600m (£528.8m) on discounts and marketing this year to improve sales in France. Revenue fell 1.6% in the first half ...

  • News

    Borders reports widening losses

    2009-09-04T00:00:00Z

    Book retailer Borders reported widening losses of $12.7m (£7.8m) for its second quarter, compared with a loss of $10.5m (£6.4m) for the same period last year.Quarterly sales were $616.8m (£378.1m), down 17.7% from a year ago. Comparable store sales fell 17.9% and 10.8% at Borders superstores and Waldenbooks stores respectively.Chief ...

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    News

    Blinding light bulb sales as ban sparks hoarding

    2009-09-04T00:00:00Z

    Sales of incandescent light bulbs have shot through the roof as shoppers stock up in the wake of the European ban, brightening up DIY retailers’ trade.

  • News

    Australian Woolworths reports sales growth

    2009-09-04T00:00:00Z

    Multi-sector retailer Woolworths – which operates supermarkets, pubs, and forecourt, liquor and electronics stores – reported group sales growth of 5.4% to AUS$49.59bn (£24.34bn) for 2008/09.Food and alcohol sales increased 9.6% to AUS$32.8bn (£16.9bn), with comparable sales rising 7.4%. New Zealand supermarket sales were up 3.9% on last year, while ...

  • News

    Woolworths-Lowe’s deal signals lift for Australia

    2009-09-04T00:00:00Z

    Woolworths Australia this week announced plans to move into the DIY sector with a joint venture with Lowe’s, America’s second-largest home improvement chain.

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    News

    Danish accessories and jewellery brand to hit UK

    2009-09-04T00:00:00Z

    Danish accessories and jewellery brand Pieces Accessories has secured its first UK standalone shop at Grand Arcade in Cambridge.

  • News

    Staples announces a 9% increase in sales

    2009-09-04T00:00:00Z

    Office specialist Staples announced a 9% increase in sales to $5.5bn (£3.37bn) for its second quarter. In North America retail sales decreased 5% to $2bn (£1.23bn).Comparable store sales decreased 5% against 2008, reflecting declines in average order size and weakness in durable categories such as business machines and furniture. Internationally, ...

  • News

    Casino’s first-half net profits hit €231m

    2009-09-04T00:00:00Z

    French grocer Casino’s first-half net profits hit €231m (£203.5m), up from €229m (£201.8m) in 2008, while operating profit fell 9.1% to €488m (£430m).The retailer now expects to have implemented a €1bn (£881.1m) asset disposal programme by the end of next year. It also plans to strengthen its appeal by developing ...

  • News

    Lianhua records a 2.2% growth in turnover

    2009-09-04T00:00:00Z

    China’s largest grocer, Lianhua, recorded a 2.2% growth in turnover to CNY10.98bn (£984.5m) in the first half of the year. However, the impact of the financial crisis and a slump in consumer goods prices meant that same-store sales fell 1.7%.Net profit was up 10% to CNY250m (£22.4m). The group continued ...