Retail and consumer goods industry news

The German pharmacy operator Celesio has announced a dip in profit for the first quarter of 2013. Intense competition within German drugs wholesale market Europe’s largest drug distributor has announced an unexpected decline in earnings from the first quarter of this year. The decline in the company’s earnings year-on-year and group’s sales falling by 5% to 5,361.6 million Euros can be attri...

German retailer Bünting has acquired 33 Minipreis-Märkte stores from the Klingenthal group, subject to regulatory approval.  Stores to retain Minipreis-Märkte fascia The acquisition also includes the Minipreis-Märkte headquarters, staff, and distribution centre in Salzkotten, North Rhine-Westphalia.  The stores, in Ostwestfalen, Hessen and Thüringen, will retain the Minipreis-Märkte fasci...

Kenya-based Uchumi’s chief executive, Jonathan Ciano, has announced that the retailer will open a further 13 stores in east Africa in the next year. Cash call to fund growth Ciano said that the company is preparing a cash call and a cross listing of its shares to enable it to invest in markets across the region. Uchumi will list shares on bourses in Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda to generate fun...

Coles has cut the prices of some of Australia's most popular brands in the latest round of price reductions under its popular 'Down Down' campaign. Great value on four big brands The latest round of cuts will see 40 new products added to the retailer's 'Down Down' list of EDLP products. However, following customer research that found 75% of Australians would purchase big brands when discounte...

Woolworths has declared its rollout of iPads to its store managers a success, with the initiative allowing them to spend an extra working day every week on the shop floor. Technology enabling more time in customer facing roles In August 2012, the retailer issued all of its 890 store managers with iPads, enabling them to free up time traditionally spent in the backroom in front of a computer a...

FEMSA Comercio has announced its second pharmacy chain acquisition in Mexico. Follows acquisition of Farmacias Yza FEMSA Comercio has acquired Farmacias FM Moderna, a drugstore operator in the western Mexican state of Sinaloa.  FM Moderna operates more than 100 stores in the state.  FEMSA said the move was part of "advances in its strategy to establish a relevant position in this attractive ...

Russian retailer Magnit is to reformat its network of drugstores in a bid to improve their performance, according to reports in the Russian press. Store closures in the past month According to the reports, 13 unprofitable stores were closed in April and six opened. The reformatting will cover the assortment, price and marketing. The changes are coming following the appointment of Sergei Go...

Profits are up at Midcounties Co-operative, with like-for-like sales up 1% Continued focus on customer delivery The Midcounties Co-operative has reported a £1.3 million increase in group operating profits to £19 million for the year ending January 29th. Like-for-like sales in the retailer's food division were up 1%, with total sales up 8% to £597 million. The group's continued focus on cu...

Following last week's re-launch of its Clubcard website, the retailer has launched the latest round of its popular Clubcard Exchange programme, aiming to give families greater value on summer products and ranges. Helping customers get ready for the Summer The latest iteration of Clubcard Exchange is clearly designed to help families get ready for summer, by maximising the value they can ac...

Poland-based Eurocash has announced first quarter results, saying that it had benefited from revenue growth of 3.5%, compared to the same period in 2012. During the three month period the company said it generated sales of PLN3,863.9 million (€932.0 million). Cash and carry division drives revenue growth For the period between January and March 2013 the company said that its cash and carry di...