Europe news & analysis

Farmfoods, the frozen food specialist, has reported rising profits due to an increased focus on cost savings. Falling sales Farmfoods has reported a 10% increase in pre-tax profits in the 52 weeks to 29 December 2012, from £24.5m to £27m. However sales fell by 1.5% to £595m. In the accounts filed at Companies House, Farmfoods attributed this to the fiercely competitive environment. Cos...

Eroski has invested €1.4m in its latest supermarket model, launched in Pamplona, which focuses on personal service and fresh regional produce. New initiatives to debut here This outlet will act as a "laboratory" for Eroski to test innovations before rolling them out to the wider store network. It is part of the retailer's 2013-16 store transformation plan. Store formats director Carmen ...

Plans to open 'discount corners' in hypermarkets in areas of low affluence have been unveiled by the French retailer. Strengthening value perceptions The move comes in response to a pilot in a store in Sevran in Paris. In an interview with LSA the store manager, Thierry Lalo, said the initiative had helped the store to win back share from discounters in the area, halt the loss of custom...

The French retailer is seeking to generate better performance from locally sourced products. Targeting €300m According to LSA, Leclerc is aiming to generate sales of €300m from its local partnerships ('Alliances locales') in the long term, which represents 1% of turnover. They currently generate €100m in turnover. Alliances locales source products from within a 100km radius of Leclerc sto...

K-Group sales fell by 6.9% in the first quarter, as the business continues to implement its turnaround strategy. Growth in grocery While total group sales were down, Kesko's grocery division performed much better, delivering growth of 3.5% at €1,045m. Kesko estimates this is roughly in line with market growth for Q1. During the period January-March it added three new stores and renovated an...

Finnish S Group has released performance figures for January-March, revealing sales of €2.6bn. Level growth S Group revealed that sales were flat year-on-year, level with Q1 2012 results. Growth in grocery sales compensated for weaker revenues in S Group's consumer goods divisions. Sales of consumer goods were down 4.6% whereas grocery sales rose 5% to €1.6bn. However this growth was driven b...

This week, IGD joined a Walmart International investors meeting in London that provided new insight into Asda's strategic priorities going forward. Here are our five key takeaways. New ways that EDLC will enable Asda to strengthen value With no let up in the budgetary pressures on the shopper in sight, Asda will further strengthen its reputation for value and communicate this message in new...

Portuguese group Jerónimo Martins has reported consolidated sales up 16% to €2.8bn in the first quarter of 2013, with Polish chain Biedronka increasing sales by 20%.  Strong like-for-likes in Poland, expansion remains priority Biedronka achieved like-for-like growth of 8.8% for Q1, with both basket size and number of visits contributing. The fresh focus rollout was completed in September...

Musgrave Group has reported sales of €4.9 billion for the year ended 31st December 2012, up 10.5%, with profits before tax up 3% to €72 million.  Group performance was underpinned by 13.5% growth in its core Irish market, with sales up to €3.1bn, boosted by a full year's contribution from Superquinn, as well as record sales in both the Supervalu and Centra retail brands. 'Winning in the New Wor...

Asda has announced that it is investing £700m of capital into its business, concentrated in major improvements to its online offer, new stores and supply chain. Same day Click & Collect launched Asda has revealed that it is to trial a same day collection service later this year, with customers able to collect their order from stores. In addition, the retailer plans to roll out Click and C...