All articles by Planet Retail – Page 22
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Amazon developing new version of Kindle Fire and Android smartphone
Amazon is developing a new version of its Kindle Fire and an Android smartphone, it is understood.The phone will give Amazon a low-price device to bolster sales of digital downloads such as Kindle ebooks and Android apps.Amazon has made no comment regarding either device.
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Seven & I to launch free home-delivery service
Convenience store business Seven & I is launching a free home-delivery service in August.The retailer aims to increase its offer to the elderly, who have difficulty with grocery shopping. The number of Japanese aged 65 or over has reached 29.7 million, accounting for 23% of the population.Seven & I plans ...
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J Front Retailing to double stake in shopping mall chain
Department store operator J Front Retailing plans to double its stake in shopping mall chain Parco, aiming to acquire up to 65% via a tender offer. The move follows J Front Retailing’s acquisition of 33.24% of Parco’s shares earlier this year.J Front Retailing is also aims to establish a new ...
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Denner launches smartphone app
Migros-owned discount chain Denner has launched a smartphone app enabling customers to access detailed information on its range of wines.The application is available free on Apple and Android devices and allows filtering by price and origin. Customers can also find information by taking pictures of labels, as well as search ...
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Best Buy to relaunch Best Buy Mobile brand in China
US retailer Best Buy is to relaunch its Best Buy Mobile brand in China, more than a year after closing all of its stores.The company plans to sell mobiles through its retail subsidiary Five Star.A spokesperson said the target audience will be white-collar workers with disposable income.
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DIY retailer Praktiker stores to change to Max Bahr branding
DIY retailer Praktiker has confirmed its stores will be changing to the Max Bahr brand.About 120 Praktiker stores are to be converted by 2014, with the first rebranded stores launching in September this year. The programme includes the “complete conversion [of Praktiker stores] to the premium concept of Max Bahr”, ...
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Micromania introduces new store-type
Games retailer Micromania, which is owned by GameStop, has introduced a new store-type centred on an area known as an ‘M Zone’. Customers can play one another, test games or seek assistance from staff. The first shop adopting the new approach is in Nice’s Cap 3000 shopping centre.Micromania president Pierre ...
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Target receives government approval to rebadge Zellers
US general merchandise retailer Target has received final federal government approval to rebadge Zellers stores to its fascias. However, it must sell and promote Canadian ‘cultural products’ including magazines, books, music and DVDs in the shops.Target must also invest US$3.5bn (£2.2bn) in its Canadian stores, including hiring 25,000 staff by ...
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Bed Bath & Beyond to expand World Market food and beverage range
Bed Bath & Beyond has announced that it is to expand its World Market food and beverage range to multiple locations. Initially, the retailer tested the programme in just four stores.The concept may vary from store to store, with some locations offering international food and others more healthy items, Bed ...
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Amazon plans to launch Kindle technology in Brazil
Amazon plans to launch its Kindle e-reader and an online Kindle bookstore in Brazil during the fourth quarter to benefit from a growing ecommerce market.It is thought that a launch may be limited to Kindle ebooks initially in order to minimise the risks associated with rolling out a full Amazon ...
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Costco looks into European expansion
Costco is looking into opening stores in continental Europe and pursuing a European expansion programme.James P Murphy, international executive vice-president, said: “We are interested in investing in the obvious four: Germany, Italy, France and Spain.”The company is yet to decide which country will be first but will probably open a ...
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Ikea France to install pop-up VIP lounge
Ikea France is to install a pop-up VIP lounge at the Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport, open to all members of the public from July 13 to August 5, it has been reported.Billed as ‘Ikea Lounge: the first democratic airport lounge’, the 721 sq ft space at Terminal 3 will have ...
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Inditex’s joint venture with Tata Group deferred
Inditex’s proposal for a joint venture with Tata Group for its brand Massimo Dutti was deferred by the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB), the authority that clears foreign investment in India.The FIPB said the investment was not being made by Inditex but by its 100%-owned subsidiary Zara Holdings BV, which ...
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David Jones offer withdrawal probed
Mystery and controversy surrounded a potential bid for Australian retailer David Jones. The retailer’s shares rocketed after a takeover offer was apparently made by an unheard of British private equity firm.The offer was subsequently withdrawn and Australian regulators were probing the issue.The would-be buyer, EB Private Equity, was not listed ...
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Schlecker to shut remaining XL stores
Insolvent drugstore chain Schlecker was to shut its remaining 350 XL stores following the closure of its eponymous shops this week.Initially, the retailer planned to sell these larger stores together with its more upscale Ihr Platz banner.However, the committee of its creditors decided there was no economically feasible future for ...
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Shufersal to launch new supermarket chain
Shufersal is to launch Yesh Behesed, a new supermarket chain targeting haredi (ultra-orthodox) communities, Globes reports.Initially, seven Yesh brand discount supermarkets will change to the new format, while one new store will open in Bnei Brak.
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Lidl to open new Danish distribution centre
Discounter Lidl plans to open a new distribution centre in the country. It has bought a plot in Køge for a 915,000 sq ft facility.The warehouse is due to come onstream in 2014 and will create 200 jobs. Separately, Lidl Denmark said it intends to focus more on female shoppers, ...
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Walmart Canada to discount more than 10,000 products
Walmart Canada is to discount more than 10,000 products in stores nationwide. The strategy is designed to build market share before expansion and the market entry next year of rival retailer Target.The offers will extend through July and include price reductions on about 3,000 grocery items.Recently, Walmart Canada has been ...
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Drugstore group Walgreens reports sales decline
Drugstore group Walgreens reported that sales declined 3.4% to $17.8bn (£11.4bn) for the third quarter ended May 31.Net earnings fell by 10.8% to $537m (£345m), impacted by the retailer no longer being part of the Express Scripts pharmacy provider network, as well as costs associated with entering into a strategic ...
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Delay for Walmart de Mexico (Walmex) store extension
Walmart’s subsidiary Walmart de Mexico (Walmex) revealed that its plans to extend its store network will be delayed by 60 to 90 days.The retailer said: “The revision is primarily due to additional steps the company is adding to its real estate process that extends the average time required to open ...