Retail and consumer goods industry news

Tesco has launched its online grocery home shopping service in Shanghai, completing a rapid roll out of the service to all of its major Asian markets, excluding India. Launch in inner Shanghai with further expansion planned From 25 June 2013 Tesco will have online shopping live in all of its major Asian markets of South Korea, Thailand, Malaysia and now China. The service will initially be...

Magnit is in talks to form a partnership with Rosneft to operate stores on its forecourts, according to press reports. Potential joint venture Although the deal is yet to be confirmed, it is thought that the joint venture between Magnit and Rosneft will see Magnit convenience stores opening at Rosneft’s 1,800 petrol stations. Increase sales and maintain market leader position As...

German wholesaler Lekkerland Group has reported sales up 1.1% for 2012, and is closing its Romanian, Czech and Polish businesses. Increased sales and earnings in 2012 Good earnings in Germany and the sale of subsidiary company Convenience Concept boosted earnings in 2012 to the tune of +58%. Sales in Germany, Belgium, Switzerland and Spain were all up but fell in the Netherlands and Austria...

China's largest hypermarket operator Sun Art Retail Group has set up an e-commerce company in Shanghai, joining Tesco who has also just announced the launch of its grocery home shopping service. Sun Art explores e-commerce opportunity Sun Art Retail Group has established Uitox E-commerce Co Ltd, a Shanghai registered unit, to sell online in China. Uitox has a registered capital of RMB10...

Leading UK symbol group Londis has launched a range of new initiatives to build communication and information sharing amongst its retail members, in order to create a stronger community of best practice and feedback across the network. The 'Londis Family' programme Under the umbrella of the 'Londis Family' these three new initiatives are titled: Londis Cluster Families, Londis Mentor Scheme an...

US grocer Kroger has established two new supermarket divisions (Nashville and Louisville) and announced new presidents of the existing Michigan division and of Kroger manufacturing. All appointments are internal promotions Rick Going has been appointed president of the new Nashville division. He moves from the Michigan division where his replacement is Jayne Homco, formerly vice president...

In an interview with the Grocer magazine, John Mackey, founder and chief executive of leading US premium grocery retailer Whole Foods Market, has indicated the future of the company in the UK will focus on developing smaller stores.  It is envisaged that new openings in the UK will focus on units as small as 15,000 sq ft. Continues pattern of recent openings Aside from the flagship store in Ken...

In an article in South Africa’s Financial Mail, Pick n Pay’s chief executive, Richard Brasher, discussed the company’s medium term strategy. Short term aim is on ‘stabilising the business’ Brasher first said that Pick n Pay had not changed enough over a decade and then felt it had to change a lot to catch back up. As such, his first steps would be ‘ to stabilise the business, reintroduce st...

Waitrose will be installing coffee machines in all stores following the recent success of trials in its convenience stores. Complementing existing food-to-go offer Waitrose is planning to complete the rollout to all stores by the end of August, including the 92 branches that already have cafes. A Waitrose spokeswoman said, "We know customers like the convenience of being able to get h...

In conjunction with software company Appconomy, Carrefour has launched a new shopper-oriented app in China. Smart Shopper app to ‘enhance customer offer’ The two companies said that the new app will combine indoor location sensing technology, the option for a social shopping list and an advertising system that will allow Carrefour to engage with shoppers in a personalised way. The social sh...