| Global retail industry news |  |
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- Report: Emerging markets home to fast-growing retailers
Emerging markets led by China accounted for 24 of the world's 50 fastest-growing retail businesses between 2006 and 2011, according to Deloitte. "Growth opportunities for many of the world’s largest retailers continue to be driven by global expansion in an attempt to make up for slow-growing or stagnant domestic markets," said Ira Kalish, director of global economics at Deloitte Services. CampaignAsia.com
(04 Feb.)     
| Retail in Europe | | |
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- Oak Furniture Land's serendipitous growth story
Jason Bannister paid £10,000 in 2004 for a shipping crate full of Mexican pine furniture, storing it in a chicken shed until he discovered eBay and started selling. Five years later, in the depths of the UK's economic downturn, Bannister opened the first brick-and-mortar Oak Furniture Land store. His company now operates 36 stores, with more opening at the rate of about one per month. The Telegraph (London) (tiered subscription model)
(04 Feb.)
- Burger King's slow march back to France
Burger King was out of France for 15 years, allowing rival McDonald's to capture the lion's share of the market, but now a partnership with Italian operator Autogrill has brought the brand back to France with a strategy that lets Burger King test the market without significant upfront investment. "They have the name recognition, that weird cult following in France,” said Euromonitor International analyst Michael Schaefer. Bloomberg Businessweek
(04 Feb.)
| Retail in Asia | | |
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- Yum! downgrades earnings forecast on China woes
Yum! Brands revised its earnings forecast for 2013 on Monday, to a "mid-single-digit" percentage decline from an earlier announced estimate of 10% growth, citing a backlash after it was learned last year that KFC restaurants in China were sourcing chicken from two producers that were using excessive antibiotics. Yum! saw January same-store sales fall 37% in China, where it has 5,300 restaurants that typically generate half the company's sales. Reuters
(04 Feb.)
| E-commerce Spotlight | | |
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| Spotlight on Grocery | | |
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- Fresh & Easy doesn't plan to close stores
In a Facebook message, Tesco's US banner, Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market, told shoppers that though it is undergoing a strategic review, it is not about to close. "While we don't know exactly what the outcome of this strategic review process will be, we want to assure you we don't have plans to close stores and we're confident Fresh & Easy can continue to be your favorite neighborhood market," Fresh & Easy said. Bloomberg Businessweek
(01 Feb.)
- Grocers, discounters bid on HMV stores
Supermarket chains Iceland, Tesco, Sainsbury's and Morrisons have submitted bids to acquire the leases on HMV store spaces that are large enough to house grocery stores. The music retailer entered administration last month, and has 220 store spaces up for bid; low-priced rivals including Poundland and 99p Stores may be bidding for some of the same stores. The Independent (London)
(03 Feb.)
| NRF News | | |
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- What’s hot in retail (and at NRF)
The regalia and record-setting attendance of Retail’s BIG Show 2013 was as popular as ever in January, but it wasn’t the only news retailers had their eyes on last month. Readers were tuned in to NRF’s announcement of December retail sales and the results of the 2012 holiday season, the retail sales forecast for 2013, and the release of monthly reporting dates for retailers via NRF’s 4-5-4 calendar. Read more. Retail's BIG Blog
(01 Feb.)
| SmartQuote | | |
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 | Failure changes for the better, success for the worse."
--Seneca the Younger,
Roman philosopher, statesman and playwright
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