Europe news & analysis

Alliance Boots has announced 100% ownership of shares in ANZAG, one of Germany’s largest pharmaceutical wholesalers. Germany a key market ANZAG operates the majority of its distribution centres in Germany, Europe’s largest pharmaceutical market, where it serves approximately 8000 customers. The wholesaler also has businesses in Romania and Lithuania and an associate in Croatia. Alliance...

According to reports in Levensmiddelenkrant, Ahold is set to establish AH to Go in the Netherlands as a separate division within the company in order to enable the concept to ‘better meet the needs’ of its customers. Separation to give AH to Go ability to focus on its own offer Commenting on the reports a spokesperson for Ahold , Anoesjka Aspeslagh, said: “ Albert Heijn to Go distinguishes i...

From requests for promotions with real depth, through to the growing demand for discounters and evolving shopping patterns, our ShopperVista service reveals three shopper trends that should be top of mind if you want to stay ahead of the competition in the coming months. 1. Real Deal In response to the 'blizzard' of promotions, more shoppers are calling for depth over breadth of promotions in...

The Dutch supermarket chain is to invest around $100m in developing stores in Russia, with a focus on Moscow, according to Russian press reports. Reconstruction and store openings With Russia being a long-term priority market, SPAR’s local partner is investing $30m in reconstructing a...

As Tesco creates a new position for a Managing Director to oversee its operations in London, what does this mean for its strategy in the capital in terms of how its business develops going forward? Getting serious about the London opportunity Andrew Yaxley was moved from his position as UK Commercial Director for Fresh Food last October and will now take on the responsibility for all for...

Against a backdrop of Eurostat revealing that the volume of retail trade fell by 3.3% in Romania in December 2012, when compared to the same month in 2011, retailers have announced a number of initiatives for the market. Delhaize trials store design in Bucharest Delhaize , under the Mega Image banner, has opened a ‘concept store’ in Bucharest. The new outlet is larger than the company’s stan...

Coop Supermarkten has announced that shoppers are able to purchase grocery products online, via cooponline.nl, and have their orders delivered to their home or, if the store is large enough, collect it from there. Products to be picked in store The company said that it has signed up 20 entrepreneurs and will be extending the reach of its online shopping option during 2013. To maximise its p...

Ocado has confirmed gross sales grew by 11.4% to £716.2m for the 52 week period of 2012. The pure play retailer expanded its range by 40% during the year to reach 28,000 SKUs, as CEO Tim Steiner aims to move from 'supermarket to hypermarket' status. EBITDA was up 20.4% to £33.5m, although the retailer recorded a loss before tax of £1.0m this narrowed to £0.6m looking at the 53 year period. Gross m...

M&S has created a dedicated team to experiment with new technology, according to reports in Retail Week. It also intends to open Simply Food stores in France. Digital lab to introduce 'start up' mentality According to the report, the digital lab will be central in driving M&S'  multi-channel ambitions, with a start-up, agile mentality helping the retailer to evaluate and develop cutting edge ...

It has been revealed that US-based global warehouse club operator, Costco will open a further two depots in the UK during 2013 taking its total number of units in the country to 25.  This will make 2013 something of a bumper year for Costco.  In its twenty years of operating in the country new openings have averaged little more than one every twelve months. Depot twenty-four for Farnborough, Hamp...