Retail and consumer goods industry news

Amazon has announced net sales up 27% for 2012, with high demand for the Kindle Fire HD tablet helping drive growth; despite this operating income for the year was down 22%. Strong Christmas season In North America, full year sales were up 30% and were similarly high in Q4, showing a 23% increase, in US dollar terms.  Internationally, sales were up 20% in the fourth quarter and grew by 23...

Metro Inc reported that first quarter sales, for the 12 weeks to December 22, 2012, increased by 2.7% to $2.7bn, with same-store sales up 1.5%. Net earnings increased by 17.1% to $121.4m. Focusing on fresh and loyalty to drive growth in 2013 This is a strong set of results from Metro as it has continued to grow basket size in a highly promotional and challenging market.  The focus in the ...

The Belgian discounter has reported sustained sales growth for the nine months to 31st December, 2012. Fuel continues to outgrow food Total group sales grew by 6.1% to €6.26bn in the period 1st April to 31st December, while retail sales grew slightly behind this, up 5.1% to €4.75bn.  Colruyt attributes the growth to strong year-end sales and a series of additional discount campaigns which s...

The latest retailer share data from Kantar Worldpanel, for the 12 weeks to 20 January 2013, shows the market trend marginally up on the previous period, with grocery retail showing growth of 3.3%.  Meantime inflation has continued to nudge upwards; Kantar indicates this reached 4.9% in this latest period against 4.5% in the December figures. 12 weeks to 22 January 2012 (% share) 1...

Axfood's discount chain Willys is the first discounter to introduce a loyalty programme in Sweden. Launching in February Due to launch next month, the loyalty programme has been designed to strengthen the retailer's relationship with its customers and drive loyalty. The scheme has set a goal of recruiting a million customers within three years, and has stated its intention that 70% of Will...

Speaking to the Grocer magazine, Martyn Ward, managing director commercial and sales, at Palmer & Harvey has set out the wholesaler's priorities for the coming year.  Key to boosting its business with independent retailers above all, will be a focus on developing its private label ranges and driving online ordering. M-brand boosted to 480 lines Branded to tie in with its Mace symbol group...

Leclerc has launched a 'made in France' section in its supermarket in Lanester, Brittany. Pilot project which could be rolled out The section comprises 80 food products, across four metres of shelving.  They are highlighted by a large French flag above the fixture and the wording 'produits fabriqués en France ' (products made in France).  The items featured are already sold in-store; Le...

The Co-operative has today announced the launch of a new Christmas savings scheme, offering enhanced protection for customer deposits . Peace of mind for customers The Co-operative has been working closely with representatives of the Farepak Victims Committee (set up after the 2006 collapse of the Christmas club) to offer customers who buy savings stamps throughout the year protection in wh...

Asda is on course to complete the rollout of free WiFi into all its stores by the end of February as it looks to embed its multichannel vision within its business. Multichannel approach Asda has said the WiFi opens up "new opportunities to interact, showcase our fantastic Asda app and give our customers an enriched shopping experience" , as reported by The Grocer. The free WiFi is already...

Netherlands-based Sligro, part of the Superunie buying group, has revealed a number of strategic developments following on from its annual results announcement. 2012 sees EMTÉ’s profit fall As part of the publication of its annual results, Sligro said that its EMTE supermarket banner had suffered from a fall in profits to €3 million, from €4 million in 2011. The company said that EMTE had exp...