All International articles – Page 249

  • News

    Wal-Mart payroll deal revised in China

    2009-05-01T00:00:00Z

    Wal-Mart’s plans to reduce staff costs in China have stalled after trade union action.The Shenzhen Federation of Trade Unions has spoken to Wal-Mart, which has agreed to revise its plans to implement a payroll cut across 2,000 mid-level managers, who were being offered lower positions with less pay.The US giant ...

  • News

    Internet shopping soars in China

    2009-05-01T00:00:00Z

    Online sales are soaring as shoppers in China turn to the internet as the recession deepens.According to Analysis International, e-commerce sales across the country rocketed 173 per cent year on year to Yn3.5bn (£350.1m) in the first quarter of 2009. Sales rose 24.1 per cent on the previous quarter as ...

  • News

    Ikea hires new chief executive

    2009-05-01T00:00:00Z

    Ikea has promoted Mikael Ohlsson to chief executive of the furniture and homewares giant. He will replace Anders Dahlvig, who has been at the helm for 10 years.Ohlsson, who has worked at Ikea for 30 years, will take up the position on September 1. At present he is regional manager ...

  • News

    M&S treads cautiously in India

    2009-05-01T00:00:00Z

    Marks & Spencer’s foray into the Indian market is being slowed by global economic turbulence and delays in the availability of commercial property in the country.Through a joint venture with Reliance Retail, M&S had planned to set up 50 stores across the country in the next five years. Chief executive ...

  • News

    Discount range at Carrefour

    2009-05-01T00:00:00Z

    Carrefour has unveiled a new discount range that will be introduced across all of its chains in France and Belgium by the end of the month.The retailer hopes that the range will attract customers tightening their belts during the recession and help it compete with discount groups such as Aldi ...

  • News

    Otto’s entry into Turkey won’t bring quick wins

    2009-05-01T00:00:00Z

    At the end of this month German home shopping giant Otto Group will take its first steps into Turkey by testing newly acquired private shopping site Limango there.

  • ColesPic2
    Analysis

    Coles: Can the Brits save Australia’s fallen star?

    2009-05-01T00:00:00Z

    Australian grocer Coles is the greatest turnaround opportunity in global food retailing. And an all-star UK line-up is doing it. Jennifer Creevy learns how

  • News

    Amazon extends Euro reach as exports rise

    2009-05-01T00:00:00Z

    E-tail giant Amazon has opened up all of its categories for delivery to Europe as it seeks to benefit from sterling’s weakness.

  • WHSmith Bmth fascia
    News

    WHSmith considers increasing presence in overseas airports

    2009-05-01T00:00:00Z

    WHSmith is contemplating further overseas expansion of its travel business by opening in more foreign airports.

  • News

    N Brown looks abroad to continue its growth

    2009-05-01T00:00:00Z

    Home shopping group N Brown will focus on new markets and an enhanced customer offer to continue to increase sales after a strong full-year performance.

  • News

    Tengelmann to relaunch online store Plus

    2009-04-24T00:00:00Z

    Grocer Tengelmann plans to relaunch its non-food online store Plus later this year, according to reports. The project will extend the online shop’s product range to around 10,000 items by the end of this year.New product ranges will include electronics, DIY and furniture. The site will also feature innovations such ...

  • Consumer online
    Analysis

    Global online retail: The world at your fingertips

    2009-04-24T00:00:00Z

    The online route is allowing many retailers to trade in foreign countries without incurring the expense of a physical launch. Joanna Perry assesses e-commerce prospects across the globe

  • News

    Dollar Tree launches transactional website

    2009-04-24T00:00:00Z

    Single price point retailer Dollar Tree has launched a transactional website, accessible from its Dollartree.com site. The website is aimed at customers who want to buy in large quantities, and allows users to order cases of products with free shipping if they collect their order from one of the retailer’s ...

  • Wal-Mart
    News

    Wal-Mart plan to cut costs in China raises concerns

    2009-04-24T00:00:00Z

    Wal-Mart sent a disappointing signal to the Chinese retail market last week when it revealed it was launching a job optimisation programme to reduce staff costs in the country.

  • News

    Uniqlo launches online in China

    2009-04-24T00:00:00Z

    Fashion retailer Uniqlo has launched online in China on website Taobao.com. The site is part of the Alibaba Group, which is 39 per cent owned by Yahoo.Tadashi Yanai, chairman of Fast Retailing – Uniqlo’s parent company – said the strategy will allow Uniqlo access to Taobao’s 100 million registered users.Uniqlo ...

  • News

    New chief named for Warehouse Stationery

    2009-04-24T00:00:00Z

    Discount retailer The Warehouse has appointed Mark Powell as chief executive of its subsidiary Warehouse Stationery, following the resignation of Gary Rohloff.Powell has worked at The Warehouse for six years in senior executive roles. Previously he worked at global giants Wal-Mart Canada and Tesco UK. He is general manager of ...

  • News

    Directors leave board of US Borders

    2009-04-24T00:00:00Z

    Embattled American bookseller Borders is undergoing more upheaval, with directors Edna Medford and Michael Weiss leaving the board.Five of the remaining eight directors have also announced they are to leave, although they will wait until the retailer has found replacements before they go.Borders plans to hire a search firm to ...

  • News

    Best Denki forecasts profit in current year

    2009-04-24T00:00:00Z

    Electricals and consumer goods retailer Best Denki has forecast that it will notch up profits of ¥150m (£1m) in the year that began March 1, up from a net loss of ¥3.01bn (£21m).Best Denki blamed weak consumer spending and price deflation for last year’s losses. Sales in the year to ...

  • News

    Australian Woolworths sales climb

    2009-04-24T00:00:00Z

    Sales at the country’s largest retailer Woolworths climbed 5.9 per cent to Aus$12bn (£5.81bn) in the 13 weeks to April 5.Its Australian Food and Liquor division achieved a 10 per cent hike in sales, with like-for-likes climbing 7.9 per cent. Like-for-likes at its New Zealand Supermarkets arm rose 3 per ...

  • News

    Arcandor to restructure

    2009-04-24T00:00:00Z

    Arcandor, operator of department store chain Karstadt and home shopping group Primondo, is to restructure its business at a cost of €900m (£800.4m) over the next five years.Karstadt will form part of a new management board-level division called Atrys. Arcandor aims to save 5 per cent of its €7bn (£6.23bn) ...