Europe news & analysis

Kantar has issued a special six-week Christmas release of its Worldpanel market share data.  Offering specific detail on relative performances in the grocery sector in the key festive trading period, this provides a useful counterpoint to corporate statements.  The figures issued for the period to 6th January 2013 shows market growth accelerated  modestly to 3.8%, though the fortunes of retailers...

In a major strategic move, ICA Norway has entered into an agreement with Norgesgruppen, aiming to improve its commercial advantage in the market. Coordinated sourcing and distribution The cooperation with Norgesgruppen will take effect from April 1, 2013, and coordinates distribution and logistics between ICA Norway and Norgesgruppen’s wholesale company, Asko. The changes, which will come i...

Tesco has launched a new brand into its baby category that will cover products, information and expert advice, available both in-store and online. New improved and expanded ranges The new brand is called ' Tesco Loves Baby' and will underpin the retailers activity in the baby and toddler category, looking to support expectant parents, to those with young children. The new brand, which has...

X5 Retail Group has announced its preliminary sales results for 2012, amidst further management changes. Three key management changes At last week’s Board Meeting, the acting CEO Stephan DuCharme was made statutory CEO, subject to approval at the AGM in April. Kieran Balfe, X5’s CFO handed his resignation in, effective as of March 2013 and Sergey Piven will become the new CFO, having pr...

Metro Group has announced plans to double the number of franchise stores it operates under the La Doi Pasi banner in Romania. Ambitious growth plans Developed by Metro as a franchise scheme to support traditional retailers, La Doi Pasi became the largest network of neighbourhood stores in Romania in 2012.  The retailer currently operates c.500 stores in the region, and has stated its amb...

Leading UK wholesaler Booker has re-emphasised its value offer for both its retailing and catering customers at the outset of 2013, with targeted and sustained activity to support the business needs of both groups. 40% POR offers for retailers To help boost the margins of independent retailers, Booker has launched a wide-ranging promotional offer on over 400 key lines for the small store of...

Portugal-based Jerónimo Martins has announced that preliminary sales for 2012 saying that group sales had risen by 10.5% to €10.9 billion. Biedronka remains engine of sales growth in 2012 The company said that ‘Biedronka had another strong year’, aided by the addition of 263 stores and like-for-like growth of 6.4%. Although the market environment weakened over the course of 2012, with the pac...

Rewe Group has announced plans to continue to invest in its operations in Austria, while it has also revealed an intention to rebrand its Penny XXL banner in Romania. Investment to continue in Austria According to reports in WirtschaftsBlatt, Rewe’s Austria-based supermarket division, Billa, will invest €100 million in refurbishing 100 stores and adding 30 more. At the same time, the compan...

A.S. Watson owned Superdrug has confirmed the launch of a new premium skin care and make-up brand to be called 'B'. Premium without the price The new brand will be launched on February 1st, in 882 Superdrug stores as well as online . The new range will have a premium positioning and has been brought to market by a stand-alone brand team within Superdrug. The make-up range will consis...

Netto Marken-Discount stores are to step up their focus on fresh lines, according to Lebensmittel Zeitung. Rollout of bakeries to continue Baked goods are an important part of this new strategy, to make the offer more attractive to customers.  Netto Marken-Discount should add 1,000 more in-store bakeries this year, continuing the rollout begun in 2012.  The range, of around 30 products, ...