All International articles – Page 258
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News
Carrefour sales fall
Carrefour, the world’s second-biggest retailer, said second-quarter sales fell 1.2 percent, hurt by weaker western European markets, lower petrol prices and exchange rates.The drop to €23.4bn (£20.1bn) was slightly less than some analysts’ forecasts. Half-year sales were €46.2bn (£39.8bn). Carrefour group chief executive Lars Olofsson described half-year sales as “resilient”, ...
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AnalysisCan Kingfisher's Castorama triumph in Russia?
Russia may be hard to crack but Peter Høgsted vows Kingfisher’s Castorama chain can win DIY share there. Nicola Harrison reports from St Petersburg
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NewsKingfisher eyes franchise model to chart new territory
B&Q owner Kingfisher is mulling an unprecedented move into franchising as it seeks to expand into new international markets.
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NewsSports Direct reels as profits dive and China plans shrivel
Sports Direct has hit a major obstacle in its ambitious plans to expand in China, while, a tough year has led to a 91 per cent plunge in profits.
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News
PetSmart considers expanding its services
PetSmart, America’s largest pet store chain, is considering an expansion into in-home services, including dog walking and setting up home aquariums, in an effort to distinguish itself from retailers such as Wal-Mart.PetSmart is in the early stages of developing ways to provide the services, according to the retailer’s new chief ...
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NewsNetto cuts prices to drive discount credentials
Danish discount grocer Netto is reducing the price of more than 100 staple products as it seeks to reinforce its low price proposition.
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News
Wal-Mart develops worldwide sustainable product index for suppliers
Wal-Mart is developing a worldwide sustainable product index for suppliers in an attempt to establish a single source of data for evaluating the sustainability of products.The initiative will run in three phases: surveying its more than 100,000 suppliers; helping create a consortium of universities that will collaborate with suppliers, retailers ...
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News
Metro unveils turnaround programme
Metro has unveiled a turnaround programme for its flagging Cash & Carry wholesale business. The turnaround programme is based on three core targets of growth, restructuring and innovation.Metro Cash & Carry said the programme will improve its earnings development and open up additional sales potential. The grocer’s growth strategy includes ...
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NewsMothercare protected by overseas presence
Mothercare’s international presence in 50 countries is protecting it from a slowdown in certain markets, chief executive Ben Gordon has said.
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NewsNo green shoots for two years, say retailers
The world’s top retailers do not expect any recovery in the economy for up to two years, denting any hopes of green shoots.
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NewsUS denim brand True Religion to open first UK stores
US designer denim brand True Religion is to kick off a European standalone store opening programme with a London opening planned for this year.
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News
X5 Retail Group reports strong first-half sales
X5 Retail Group has reported strong first-half sales, lifted by the performance of its price-led Pyaterochka shops.The grocery group’s consolidated net retail sales soared 46 per cent in local currency to RUR130.91bn (£2.48bn) or 6 per cent in dollars. Retail like-for-likes climbed 12 per cent year on year in local ...
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NewsJysk prepares for UK expansion after improving business model
Danish furniture retailer Jysk is poised to roll out more UK stores after resolving teething problems at its operations here and bolsters its management with a head of buying from Next.
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News
Staff recommend Aldi Sud increases branded products
Staff at discount grocer Aldi Sud have “strongly recommended” that the retailer should increase its range of branded products, according to German press reports.The discount grocer – split into two companies in Germany, Aldi Sud and Aldi Nord – is reported to have suffered a 5 per cent fall in ...
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News
Carrefour and El Corte Inglés ask staff to delay summer holidays
Carrefour and El Corte Inglés are asking their staff to delay their summer holidays in order to avoid hiring temporary staff over the busy summer months.French retail giant Carrefour wants staff to opt to take holiday in October and November, according to trade union sources.Spanish department store El Corte Inglés ...
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News
Best Denki reveals widening net loss
Electricals retailer Best Denki revealed a widening net loss of ¥1.98bn (£13.4m) in the three months to May 31, compared with a net loss of ¥168m (£1.1m) in the same period last year. Net sales fell 5.8 per cent to ¥79.4bn (£535.8m).Founded in 1953, the retailer sells discount electricals and ...
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News
Suning poised to buy stake in Laox
China’s second largest home appliance chain Suning is poised to buy a ¥800m (£5.4m)stake in struggling Japanese consumer electronics retailer Laox. Suning will acquire 66.7 million shares at ¥12 (8p) a share. The deal will give it a 27 per cent holding, making it Laox’s largest shareholder. A formal arrangement ...
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News
Rakuten chases overseas sales
Rakuten, Japan’s largest e-tail site, is chasing overseas sales as revenue from international shoppers grows at 19.7 per cent a month.Rakuten president Hiroshi Mikitani expects international sales to hit $1m (£621,300) a day by the end of the year. The e-tailer was founded in 1997 and has 47 million members ...
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News
Promotion planned for Metro chief financial officer
Metro plans to promote its chief financial officer Thomas Unger to the role of deputy chief executive early next year, according to local reports.Unger will be tasked with overseeing Metro’s restructuring programme “Shape 2012”, which will result in 15,000 job losses and aims to increase profits by €1.5bn (£1.3bn).He will ...
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NewsIkea cost cutting prepares it for renewed success
Ikea has made an unprecedented number of job cuts as it faces declining sales for the first time in its 65-year history. However, industry observers do not believe the world’s largest furniture retailer is on the wane.