RETAIL NEWS ON FASTMOVING

Shares in Truworths slumped to a nine-year low on Friday morning after the fashion retailer reported a 74% slide in profits amid difficult trading environments in SA and the UK. read more

UnionPay International (UPI) has announced significant progress in the South African retail payments market through their co-operation with Pick n Pay and Absa Bank. Through a tripartite co-operation agreement, Pick n Pay, a major food, clothing, and general merchandise retailer, is now enabled to accept UnionPay cards at all of its till points across its approximately 1,800 stores countrywide.  read more

With lampshades made by Indian women and trays from East Africa, H&M said that it had become the latest retail giant to back businesses with a mission to do good, as pressure mounts to end throwaway consumerism.  read more

In a bid to reduce its carbon footprint, mitigate load shedding and become less reliant on the national grid, the Kit Kat group has completed a solar power installation at its Benoni Cash & Carry store. read more

Botswana-based grocery retailer, Choppies, has announced that it will be exiting the South African market, four years after expanding into the country. read more

Consumer goods group Libstar said it managed solid volume growth for its core product offerings in the six months to end-June, but accounting changes will weigh somewhat on its interim headline earnings per share (Heps) growth.  read more

A rebound in economic growth in the second quarter of the year will likely see SA avert its second recession in two years. read more

With Eskom’s stability looking far from certain, businesses are searching for cheaper and more reliable alternatives to generate electricity.  read more

Iconic American jeweller Tiffany & Co is partnering with Mukesh Ambani’s conglomerate to gain a foothold in the lucrative Indian market. read more

Nestlé plans to introduce its first range of Starbucks-branded products in China, as part of a global tie-up that will help bolster the Swiss company’s proprietary Nespresso capsules in one of its fastest-growing markets. read more

Barneys New York filed for bankruptcy protection from creditors and laid out plans to shutter most of its stores after getting squeezed by rising rents and fewer visitors to its luxury fashion boutiques. read more

British supermarket chain Tesco is cutting about 4,500 jobs from its Metro stores to improve the efficiency of a format that is increasingly used by customers daily rather than for a traditional weekly shop. read more

Is it outdated to believe women still shop differently to men? The clichés are men purchase for speed and women are more motivated by price, men are big online shoppers but women still like something tangible and prefer brick-and-mortar stores. While we celebrate Women’s Month in August, we look at how women are shopping whether it’s fair to say we’re moving into an age of gender-fluid purchasing.  read more

Retail sales, a key part of Hong Kong’s economy, felt a growing impact in June from mass protests, government data shows.  read more

Amazon.com is in talks with Reliance Industries’ retail unit to buy a stake in India’s biggest brick-and-mortar retailer, two sources with knowledge of the talks said.  read more

The Shoprite Holdings share price surged more than 10 percent after Africa's biggest retailer reported a strong half performance in sales for the 52 weeks to end June, mainly driven by its core market, the Supermarkets RSA.  read more

A new school in Brackenfell is benefiting from a donation of refurbished computers from Checkers and Just PCs.  read more

The Shoprite Group is making it easier for its customers to access services such as global money transfers, cellphone purchases, bill payments, tickets and insurance with the launch of its new k’nect stores across the country.  read more

FreshStop, the largest and fastest-growing convenience store retail brand in South Africa, has launched a Rewards App that enables customers to earn cash back simply by shopping at one of its more than 300 FreshStop at Caltex stores located around South Africa. read more

Woolworths has once again reduced the valuation of struggling Australian department store chain David Jones, which has now more than halved in value in the five years since it was acquired. read more

Massmart Holdings' share price declined by more than 17percent on the JSE after the group said it expected to report a decline in earnings across all of its four divisions for the six months to end June, mainly impacted by losses in Massdiscounters. read more

Pick n Pay says finance executive Lerena Olivier will take over as CFO when Bakar Jakoet retires on September 6.  read more

Shoprite rallied the most in 22 years after Africa's largest food retailer said second-half sales climbed as it took market share. read more

Ralph Lauren reported better-than-expected quarterly revenue and profit on Tuesday, as its North America business benefited from a social media marketing blitz and the launch of new editions of its trademark Polo shirts. read more

Technologies such as augmented reality, virtual reality, animation, and gaming can provide immersive experiences, giving brands an advantage in winning consumers' hearts and minds. read more

Supermarket chain store Pick n Pay said on Tuesday that it would continue to engage South African competition regulators to address its concerns about the retailer's market dominance in shopping malls. read more

Shoprite has published its operational update for the year ending 30 June 2019, detailing its financials and the new updates they are bringing to their stores. read more

The renovated new Pine Crest was launched after an innovative R200m, 14-month multifaceted refurbishment by owners Vukile Property Fund.  read more

Ballito Junction Regional Mall has announced that it will be adding new retail brands to its offerings. read more

Philip Morris South Africa (PMSA), an affiliate of the leading international tobacco company Philip Morris International (PMI), opens its first IQOS flagship store in Sandton City, adding to its current retail footprint of 11 kiosks in leading malls across Gauteng, Western Cape, and Kwazulu-Natal.  read more

Amazon.com reported its first profit miss in two years and said income would slump in the current quarter, as the online retailer ramps up spending to deliver goods faster and spark sales growth. read more

Hasbro CFO Deborah Thomas says some retailers briefly paused direct import orders from manufacturing locations in the second quarter as they watched the trade situation. read more

Sainsbury’s is continuing its drive to reduce plastic waste by trialling the removal of plastic bags for loose fruit and veg and encouraging customers to bring their own containers or purchase a reusable bag. read more

US retail sales increased more than expected in June, pointing to strong consumer spending, which could help to blunt some of the hit on the economy from weak business investment. read more

Local fashion retailer Refinery is set to make waves across the local industry with its new spring campaign which embraces diversity, encouraging others to be unashamedly, authentically themselves.  read more

Amazon.com has a promotion for US shoppers on Prime Day, the 48-hour marketing blitz that started recently: earn $10 of credit if you let Amazon track the websites you visit. read more

South Africa’s retail sales rose more than expected in May as sales of household goods, furniture and appliances expanded quickly, a hint that pressure on consumers was easing ahead of an expected lending rate cut that may further support spending. read more

Shopper spending habits and how consumers purchase goods and services have changed significantly especially over the last few decades with the advent of cashless payment systems and contactless connectivity. read more

Strong demand for designer Riccardo Tisci’s new fashion ranges helped revenue at British label Burberry grow faster than expected in the first quarter, sending its shares soaring as a high stakes overhaul showed early signs of promise. read more

Shares in Japan’s Nintendo Co rose more than 4 percent last week after the company said it would soon launch Nintendo Switch Lite, a cheaper, handheld version of its hugely popular Switch games. read more

Footgear – backed by Old Mutual Private Equity (OMPE) announced that it has acquired the Edgars Active and High Key chain stores, divisions of the Edcon Group, and leading retailers of branded sport and lifestyle footwear, clothing and accessories. The transaction remains subject to conditions precedent, including regulatory approvals.  read more

The Investment Analyst Society recently presented an Analysts Masterclass with an emphasis on the retail and consumer goods sector of the JSE. Much insight was provided by veteran analysts Syd Vianello and Chris Gilmour, featured on the panel discussion. They unpacked several topics like the size and diversity of the sector, the impact of foreign players, consumer behaviour, and retail companies venturing offshore, and notably into Australia, often terminating these ventures in the graveyard. read more

Woolworths Holdings' (Woolies') share price gained a solid 12.8 percent last week after it announced a turnaround at its fashion, beauty and home business this year. The group, one of many local retailers to struggle in Australia and which also trades in 11 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, still relies on its home market for 71 percent of operating profit.  read more

New global research by Vend, a cloud-based retail software platform for independent retailers, has found that Cape Town independent stores enjoy average transaction values up to 49% higher than retailers in Johannesburg. read more

Cash-strapped consumers have become addicted to sales promotions, and retailers worry whether they will get the right price for their products. read more

Walmart has a hole to fill at its online unit, and whoever assumes the role faces a big challenge ahead. read more

The retailer’s food business has bolstered results amid an upturn in the fashion, beauty and home segment. read more

Investment holding company Brait says its UK high-street retailer New Look, which was largely responsible for the dismal performance it reported in June, is now better positioned to turn the corner. read more

Superbalist, the SA online fashion retailer owned by Naspers, expects to generate more than R1bn in annual revenue from its private-label, or in-house products, within the next three years. read more

Hisense, supplier of affordable and high-quality electronic goods, is rapidly gaining traction across the continent’s business-to-business market and is poised to become a significant player in Africa, where it is already a leader within the consumer goods category.  read more

Grocery retailers often find themselves facing the challenges of overstocking, understocking, missed sales and expired stock. Collaborative planning, forecasting, and replenishment (CPFR) is a framework that has been developed to address these challenges.  read more

The first product in the range is a high-protein quarter pounder burger which costs £1.99 for a pack of two. It is made with soya and pea protein and flavoured with smoked salt to give a chargrilled flavour. read more

Beverage sales rise as new packaging strategy helps company attract more consumers. read more

Paul Polman, the Dutchman who ran Unilever for almost a decade with a social slant, will push further in that direction now that he’s leaving - creating a group to help combat poverty and climate change. read more

The R155 million first phase of the new Sky City Mall, catering for the residents of Waterval, Palm Ridge, and Kathlehong some 35km south east of Johannesburg in Gauteng’s Ekurhuleni Metro, is trading well since opening its doors to scores of shoppers on 18 April.  read more

Online shopping has become increasingly popular amongst South African consumers. Convenience, competitive pricing, and a wide choice of products make online purchasing a no-brainer for tech-savvy shoppers, but retailers need to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to standing out against the competition. read more

JD Sports, Britain’s biggest sportswear retailer, bucked retail sector gloom yet again, as it predicted full-year profit will meet expectations on strong sales from new stores and growing demand for gym wear by trendy youngsters. read more

Local business leaders could be losing out on significant bottom-line gains for not paying attention to customer service. read more

British supermarket group Sainsbury’s reported a third consecutive quarter of declining underlying sales, hurt by weak clothing and general merchandise markets. read more

Truworths fell more than 6 percent on the JSE after it told investors that it had approached lenders to embark on steps to restructure the R801 million debt of its UK-based Office shoe brand, whose operational performance has continued to deteriorate. read more

Boots has confirmed that it plans to close 200 stores over the next 18 months, equal to just under 10% of the health & beauty chain’s standalone outlets.  read more

Truworths International says its UK subsidiary, Office, is considering a debt restructuring ahead of a hefty repayment due in late 2020. read more

Walmart said it aims to list its Japanese supermarket unit Seiyu while keeping a majority stake in the business, amid on-and-off speculation the US retail giant was looking to exit Japan where it has struggled to grow. read more

Pick n Pay has launched a ‘nude’ fruit and vegetable produce wall – a dedicated plastic and packaging-free zone in 13 stores across the country as part of a trial to measure customers’ readiness to switch from pre-packaged food to loose products.  read more

Do you think you are paying more than you should for energy, banking, insurance, internet, and phone services? You are not alone, and you are probably right.  read more

Tough economic conditions are encouraging more independent retailers to seek the protection of a strong franchise. That’s the experience of paint and hardware company Jack’s Paint, which has opened two stores in the past six months, bringing the number of outlets to just under 100. read more

Metro said that an unsolicited offer by two prominent investors to take over the German retailer substantially undervalues it and advised shareholders to hold off on taking action until management comments further.  read more

Walk into virtually any shopping mall in SA, and it seems you'll find a Crazy Store. From humble beginnings, the discount retailer has become a 374-chain - and counting. read more

Although the South African retail sphere is currently hindered by a slow economy and weak consumer confidence, technology is presenting opportunities to radically transform the customer experience and boost bottom line sales.  read more

British fashion chain New Look reported a bigger annual pretax loss, hurt by a large charge, while Brexit woes and rainy weather kept many shoppers out of its stores.  read more

Pick n Pay and FoodForward SA have launched their third annual Mandela Day Food Drive and invite all South Africans to contribute towards the ambitious goal of collecting 500 tonnes of food – enough to produce two million meals. read more

Woolworths is driving the vegan lifestyle into the mainstream in South Africa with its announcement that its WBeauty ranges are 100% vegan. This is in step with worldwide trends, where more and more consumers are turning to veganism, which excludes the consumption of all animal products and products with animal-derived ingredients, as a more ethical lifestyle that is gentler on the Earth.  read more

Carrefour, Europe’s largest retailer, took a decisive step on Sunday towards a full exit of the Chinese market by selling a majority stake of its activities in the country to Suning.com. read more

With little sign of a growth slowdown, Amazon has become the world’s most valuable brand, according to the 2019 BrandZ Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brands ranking.  read more

From clothing rentals to shops on demand, retail trends are changing fast, says Dion Chang, trend analyst and founder of Flux Trends. read more

Boardwalk Mall will include the latest shopping and leisure trends.  read more

Plant-based eating is all the craze of late but two young ecopreneurs knew the potential four years ago when they developed a legume pasta in their home kitchen.  read more

Tesco, Britains biggest retailer, said it is considering a trial of an upmarket convenience store under the 'Tesco finest' banner but has not disclosed when or where the pilot will be launched. read more

Carrefour will open its first store in Uganda this year, expanding in the region after a successful launch in neighbouring Kenya, the Dubai-based operator of the French retailer’s outlets said. read more

Luxury fashion group Chanel, whose star designer Karl Lagerfeld died in February, reported higher annual sales and profits and once again reaffirmed its independence, stating it was not for sale. read more

A Woolworths window display that incorporated milk bottles and plastic hangers has snapped up a prestigious global award.  read more

The pharmaceutical sector - both locally and globally - is following suite with general retail and going through uncertain times. More consumers are shopping the basics with baskets of necessities only. As CEO of the Shoprite Group, Pieter Engelbrecht, said in response to their interim results (which speak for the average South African), “In the external operating environment, economic conditions have left the group's core customer under significant financial pressure.” read more

British online fashion group Boohoo bucked a tough retail market with robust sales growth in its latest quarter as its offer of cheap clothing, delivered quickly, chimed with shoppers. read more

Shares in Woolworths have rebounded in recent weeks, thanks to a recovery in the sector and optimism that the worst may be over for the high-end retailer, whose foray into Australia has proven costly for investors. read more

SA’s retail sales jumped 2.4% in April, led by clothing retailers, adding to hopes that a technical recession may be avoided in the second quarter. read more

The much-anticipated R1.2 billion Capital Mall in Atteridgeville will go ahead despite efforts to halt its construction on the basis that it would “cannibalise” smaller shopping centres in the vicinity.  read more

Zimbabwe’s biggest retail operator, OK Zimbabwe is revamping its outlets and plans to open more stores, riding on the back of a 37 percent revenue increase and limited exposure to foreign currency woes afflicting other operators and industries in the country. read more

Naseema Adams has had enough. She has decided to close her women’s clothing store after four years. read more

Prospects for retail sector companies on the JSE had withered this year in line with the slumping economy, but there were outliers, such as Foschini and Clicks, providing good returns for shareholders in the sector, analysts said. read more

Walmart CEO Doug McMillon says the retailer is concerned that fresh produce prices would rise if tariffs are placed on imports from Mexico.  read more

Retail banks have been slower to embrace blockchain technology and face greater challenges in reaping its potential benefits than their more adventurous counterparts in the investment-banking world, according to new research from McKinsey & Co. read more

High-end retailer Woolworths has appointed Christopher Colfer, a former CEO of Richemont’s Alfred Dunhill business, as an independent non-executive director, with effect from July 1. read more

Steinhoff's [JSE:SNH] financial scandal and sugar maker Tongaat Hulett’s [JSE:TON] admission it may need to restate results is spurring South African auditors to weigh tougher measures for the profession. read more

Sainsbury’s has announced its latest moves to reduce the amount of plastic it uses. This includes the retailer removing the plastic bags in its stores used for loose fruit, vegetables, and bakery items. read more

South Africa’s leading value retailer Ackermans has been announced as the Platinum winner in the Children’s Clothing Store category at the 2019 Beeld Reader’s Choice Awards. read more

LVMH shares gained after the head of the Louis Vuitton brand gave a rosy view of its China business, easing concerns about the effects of a trade war with the US.  read more

Since 2008 Pick n Pay has reduced its energy intensity per square metre by 36.9% through both improvements in technology and behavioural change. The group has also expanded its solar installations.  read more

Alibaba is considering raising as much as $20bn through a listing in Hong Kong, people familiar with the matter say, lining up a second blockbuster deal following its 2014 record $25bn float in New York. read more

Waitrose has launched a new scheme where customers will be able to fill up or refill their own containers with a range of products as part of its ambitions to reduce waste. read more

Retail displays and visual merchandising are — and will always be — essential in driving attention and conversion in brick-and-mortar retail. Studies have shown that much of the information that human beings process comes through the sense of sight.  read more