Retail and consumer goods industry news

Following the announcement Casino was reducing prices on branded goods at its hypermarkets, a trade press report from Olivier Dauvers shows significant reductions have kicked in on 5,000 branded items. Survey shows branded prices down 5-6% According to the report, price position on 5,000 branded goods has decreased by 5-6% at the group's hypermarkets. The move is clearly a response to trading ...

Brazil's Grupo Pão de Açúcar (GPA) has revealed net profit up 36.4% in Q4 2012, against the same period in 2011, and +60.7% for the full year. Strong sales growth in food division A better sales mix, control of expenses and operational improvements across all formats drove growth in operating income both for the consolidated group and within the food business specifically.  In terms of...

Chilean retailer Cencosud is to invest USD731m in 2013, across its five Latin American markets.  Organic expansion across the region The investment will be broken down as follows: Chile - USD242m, the largest proportion of investment, will go towards 17 new supermarkets and various non-food stores Brazil - USD116m will include 15 supermarkets Peru - USD80m, including ...

According to trade press reports in Lineaires, Carrefour is set to roll out a new Market supermarket concept that has seen significant sales uplifts in tests. Theatre and local key elements of new concept According to Lineaires, the new concept sees more theatre in fresh, with local suppliers a central element of the offer. Market style table fixtures have transformed fruit and vegetables ...

Sainsbury's has revealed that annual general merchandise sales have reached £1bn for the first time, following a bumper Christmas in which year-on-year sales were a third higher. Cookware and electricals drive growth Cookware sales over the year were up by 16%, helped by well presented own brand ranges such as Sainsbury's Cooks Collection. Small electricals also rose strongly with growth o...

Coles has become the first Australian supermarket to trial a mobile wallet payment system, a significant move as the retailer looks to better leverage the use of the smartphone. Contactless mobile payment and flybuy points with a single swipe Coles has begun trials with 60 customers to test the new Coles Mastercard Mobile Wallet. The new app for smartphones will enable customers to pay for...

Kenya-based Nakumatt’s managing director, Atul Shah, has, at the opening of a new store, discussed how the company will invest more than KES1 billion to improve its existing operations and expand its retail footprint. Five new stores to be added in 2013 At the opening of Nakumatt’s 39th store, Shah said that the company was aiming to add five stores across both Kenya and Uganda. Commenting on...

The purchase of 49 Blockbuster stores signals a determination to become a significant player in the fast growth convenience market. In this article we explore the benefits of the deal and how it moves Morrisons closer to being a multi-format and multichannel retailer: A step change in its convenience presence Aligned with convenience DC location Supported by new 'Mo...

Woolworths has announced that despite operations outside its home market of South Africa accounting for only a small share of its sales in 2013, it is looking to invest in regional growth as part of a ‘long play’ on Africa’s continued economic expansion. Expansion to be driven by company-owned stores Woolworths’s expansion strategy will focus on adding company-owned stores or through operatin...

The Russian pharmacy chain has announced full year results for 2012 and outlined plans for the coming year. Sales reach RUB 14,899m Unaudited results show that the retailer generated sales of RUB 14,899m in 2012, which represents a 3% increase in year-on-year terms. At the end of the year, Pharmacy Chain 36.6 operated 842 stores across 24 regions in Russia , having opened 49 stores over th...