Retail and consumer goods industry news

French retailer Carrefour has announced a three year plan to open stores in 30 new cities in China. Expansion into new cities China Daily reports Carrefour's plans to enter 30 new cities over a three year time span, which will add to its existing network of 220 hypermarkets across 60 cities. In March 2013 Carrefour announced the opening of first store in Hohhot in the Inner Mongolia...

Waitrose has announced that Rupert Ellwood has been promoted to be its new head of marketing. Focus on campaigns, publications and events Ellwood is currently head of retail operations for Waitrose stores in the Southeast, having joined the retailer in 2010 from Wineworld, where he was managing director of London wine experience destination, Vinopolis. Ellwood replaces Sarah Fuller who left t...

Italy's number two grocery retailer, Conad, has reported a 7.3% increase in turnover for 2012. Difficult year for consumers Consumption fell by 4.3% at the end of 2012, according to official Italian data. Conad's director general, Francesco Pugliese, praised the commitment of its co-operative members and entrepreneurs for making such strong growth possible. However he remains concerned a...

Prisma, part of the Finnish retailer S Group, is opening another supermarket in Vilnius. Store number four to open in 2014 The new supermarket will open in the first half of 2014 and at the cost of LTL 40m is the first non-leased property in Lithuania. The supermarket will be located in a 10,000sqm shopping centre. International expansion contributing to strong growth Having had a s...

Reitangruppen could be poised to take over ICA’s stores in northern Norway, according to press reports. Transaction involves 108 stores in the north Ealier in the year, ICA entered into an agreement with Norgesgruppen in order to improve its commercial advantage in the market. However, the deal is pending a decision from the Competition Authority. If the deal is not given permission f...

US pharmacy chain CVS has announced new additions to its recently revamped Gold Emblem private brand. Celebrate exception in everyday food The new additions to the brand include the launch of Private Emblem Select which includes a selection of products that use premium ingredients, distinctive flavours and artisanal techniques to ‘celebrate the exception in everyday food, beverage and snac...

Chilean retailer Cencosud and Brazilian bank Itaú Unibanco Holding have signed an agreement to boost their financial retail businesses in Argentina and Chile. Agreement focuses on credit card businesses Itaú acquires a 51% stake in Cencosud's credit card operator, via its own subsidiaries, for USD307m. It will also finance the credit card portfolio in both countries. The agreement, yet ...

Migros' Basel co-operative has divested its outlets in Germany to Rewe Group, according to Swiss press reports. Involves stores close to border The transaction involves four Migros outlets close to the Swiss border, in Lörrach, Freiburg, Ludwigsburg and Ludwigshafen. The transaction, the price of which was not disclosed, has yet to be approved by the authorities. Does not mark Migros...

Carrefour has announced that it will be relaunching its Carrefour Bio organic private label range in France, while Gazeta Prawna reports that the retailer is promoting Visa contactless payment in Poland. Bio organic to be relaunched in France Carrefour will relaunch its Bio organic private label range in France, adding an extra 50 SKUs to the retailer’s existing 1,000-strong range. The co...

The latest UK grocery market share data from Kantar Worldpanel, for the 12 weeks to 9 June 2013, reveals a downturn in market growth from 3.9% to 3.0%, reflecting the challenging comparative of last year's Jubilee bank holiday. The Kantar measure of inflation indicates that prices rose by 3.9%, unchanged on the previous period and implying a drop in volumes. 12 weeks to 10 June 2...