Global Retail Intelligence

Dedicated to helping IBC members market and sell their products internationally by sharing information, providing networking opportunities and offering programs to assist, support, and educate.

Global Retail Intelligence – October 2016

To follow is a brief review of retail news from around the world: October 1 – D Mart, India The Business Standard (Mumbai) reports that India supermarket operator, D Mart “is looking to add over 60 per cent more space in the next three years. The chain, the third largest retailer after Future Group and Reliance Retail, has 3.4 million square feet of retail space now and is…

Global Retail Intelligence – September 2016

To follow is a brief review of retail news from around the world: August 26 – Walmart & ASDA, UK Bloomberg offered a review of the state of supermarket retailing in the UK including a suggestion that “Walmart should cut Asda loose. The U.S. retail giant has struggled with the U.K. supermarket it bought for 6.7 billion pounds ($8.9 billion) in 1999. A sale to a private…

British Retail Sales Rose Strongly in July

The Wall Street Journal reported today that, post Brexit, “(UK) households largely shrugged off the referendum result and kept spending” with retail sales gaining 5.6% in July compared to a year earlier. For more information, please click here. …

John Lewis to Tie Up with Myer in Australia

The Sydney Morning News reports that British department stores operator will bring its “successful homewares category” to a partnership with Australia retailer Myer. The News reports that “by the end of the year the first of this new ‘department store within a department store’ concept will open in Sydney's Northern Beaches Warringah Mall retail centre followed by rapid-fire…

Wal-Mart to sell Chinese online business to retailer JD.com

According to the Walmart corporate website, the retailer "announced that they have formed a strategic alliance to better serve consumers across China through a powerful combination of e-commerce and retail." “We’re excited about teaming up with such a strong leader in JD.com, and the potential that this new relationship creates for customers in China, as well as for our…

Tesco Shows Volume Growth

The New York Times reported on April 14 that British retailer Tesco has reported positive sales results. “’More customers are buying more things more often at Tesco, said [Dave Lewis, Tesco’s chief executive], highlighting a fourth-quarter British volume growth of 3.3 percent and a 2.8 percent rise in customer transactions.” For more information, please click here.…

Sainsbury Wins Battle for Argos Owner, Home Retail

The Wall Street Journal reported April 1 that “Home Retail Group PLC … said it will recommend J Sainsbury PLC’s £1.4 billion ($2.01 billion) takeover of the company, ending a four-month-long battle to buy the Argos owner. “Sainsbury’s said Home Retail directors unanimously recommend its offer, which will be made through a court-sanctioned scheme of arrangement and is…

Home Retail Group shares soar as Steinhoff beats Sainsbury’s offer

The Guardian reported today that the parent of Argos, Home Retail Group found another bidder. As the Guardian reported, “Shares in Argos owner Home Retail group jumped 12% on Monday after the emergence of a £1.4bn rival offer from the South African retail group, Steinhoff.” For more information, click here.…

Lost in translation – Wal-Mart stumbles hard in Brazil

Reuters reported today that Wal-Mart’s challenges in Brazil continue to grow. The story says that “Some securities analysts have speculated Wal-Mart could exit Brazil, as well as other markets in Latin America where it is already closing an additional 55 stores.” For more information, please click here. …