All International articles – Page 261
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News
Dm Drogerie Markt to double its Czech Republic stores
German pharmaceuticals chain Dm Drogerie Markt wants to double the 155 stores it has in the Czech Republic. The retailer’s founder and co-owner Götz Werner said he plans to open 20 stores this year. The Czech Republic arm is owned by Dm Austria, which oversees expansion outside Germany.The move follows ...
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Same-store sales in US decline
Same-store sales declined 4.6 per cent in the US in May, according to a report from Goldman Sachs and the International Council of Shopping Centers. The results were worse than a forecast 3 per cent drop.Among a slew of disappointing like-for-likes, department store group Nordstrom reported a fall of more ...
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Possible expansion into Russia for Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart International chief Doug McMillon has said the retailer is pursuing a variety of options to enter Russia.A delegation from Russia attended the retailer’s associates’ meeting last week and McMillon said Wal-Mart could proceed by acquisition or by opening its own stores, but no time frame has been set. “We ...
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Vishal Retail opens hypermarket in Gondia
Indian retailer Vishal Retail has opened its first hypermarket in the country, in Gondia, western India.The large format store covers more than 10,765 sq ft, selling various brands. The retailer plans to open a second hypermarket in Jalandhar, Punjab this month.Separately, a fire broke out at Vishal Retail’s 300,000 sq ...
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Tommy Hilfiger sales soar
Sales at fashion brand and retailer Tommy Hilfiger – headquartered in Amsterdam – soared 21 per cent to €1.6bn (£1.4bn) in the year to March 31. Retail sales jumped 29 per cent, while wholesaling sales rose 16 per cent.During the year a further 100 standalone stores opened globally, bringing its ...
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Rewe increases sales
Grocery group Rewe increased group-wide retail sales by 10.5 per cent to €49.8bn (£42.9bn) in 2008, it revealed this week, with EBITDA up 8.5 per cent to €1.34bn (£1.15bn).It recorded growth both in its German home market and abroad, but contributions from overseas operations were particularly strong. Sales increases were ...
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Media Markt plans more stores in Turkey
Media Markt, the consumer electronics group owned by German retailer Metro Group, plans to open a further seven stores in Turkey by the end of this year.The move is part of Media Markt’s strategy to become the leader in the Turkish market by 2010. The retailer has opened nine stores ...
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OpinionAn ode to old-fashioned values
The UK has lost sight of the standards that underpin good service, says Lord Kirkham
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NewsArcandor files for bankruptcy protection
German retail group Arcandor has filed for bankruptcy protection after yesterday’s decision by the German government not to provide rescue funds. An administrator is expected to be appointed today.
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Toys R Us acquires the FAO Schwarz toy stores
The world’s largest toy specialist Toys R Us has acquired the FAO Schwarz toy stores for an undisclosed sum.FAO Schwarz, which first opened in 1862, describes itself as the oldest toy retailer in the US. Toys R Us will operate all three FAO Schwarz stores – two in New York ...
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NewsNew Look to revamp all shops as it steams into new markets
New Look is to revamp all of its stores after a successful trial, and move into new markets including Ukraine, Poland and Singapore.
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News
Target shareholders reject alternative director list
Shareholders in general merchandise retail powerhouse Target last week rejected an alternative list of directors put up by activist shareholder William Ackman.In a heated battle, Ackman, the head of Pershing Square Capital Management, sought to have his own roster of directors, including himself, replace the existing board to better compete ...
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Profits at Office Depot’s North American retail division decline
Operating profits at Office Depot’s North American retail division declined from $82m (£50m) to $81m ($49.4m) in the first quarter to March 28. Like-for-likes plummeted 17 per cent while total sales slumped 16 per cent to $1.4bn (£854.4m).The company, which includes a business solutions arm, reported a net loss of ...
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Grupo Cortefiel appoints new chief executive
Fashion retailer Grupo Cortefiel has appointed Juan Carlos Escribano García-Bosque as its new chief executive.He replaces former chief Anselm Van den Auwelant, who will now take on a new role as non-executive president of the group.Van den Auwelant has driven the mid-market fashion group through an intense international expansion period ...
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Future of Arcandor remains unclear
The future of Karstadt owner Arcandor remains unclear after rival group Metro proposed that it acquire and merge Karstadt’s stores with its own Kaufhof fascia.But Arcandor chief executive Karl-Gerhard Eick remains confident of a state-backed solution after lobbying for a €650m (£564m) loan. Arcandor argues that Metro’s idea could cost ...
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Praktiker chief exec expects German economy to pick up soon
Wolfgang Werner, chief executive of DIY chain Praktiker, has called the bottom of the market in Germany and said he expects the economy there to be picking up soon. Werner said sales had “distinctly stabilised” over April and May, meaning it has “largely” compensated for the sales decline in the ...
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Jysk ramps up expansion plans for China
Danish furniture giant Jysk has ramped up its expansion plans for China, with plans for up to 10 stores next year – an increase on the four it had initially slated.The move will see it take on Ikea in the country, which aims to have nine stores in China by ...
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Luxury retailers struggle as sector’s immunity fails
The usually polished and aloof world of luxury retail has become an unusually tense and anxious place as some of its biggest names battle for survival.
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Fnac to launch second-hand selling section on website
Electricals giant Fnac is to sell second-hand products from a new section of its website. According to reports, the retailer expects the new channel to account for 15 per cent of all online sales within the next 18 months.Fnac, which is owned by PPR, will offer up to 2 million ...
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Shoprite and Pick ’n Pay welcome investigation
Africa’s two largest retailers – Shoprite and Pick ’n Pay – have said they have nothing to hide about their supplier relationships and would welcome an investigation by the Competition Commission.The National Agriculture Marketing Council is expected to recommend an investigation into retailers’ “dominating” role with South Africa’s food producers.Shoprite ...