France
Carrefour is to invest £67m each year between 2006 and 2008 as it concentrates on expanding its network of Greek stores. The retailer is expected to open up to 20 more Champion Marinopoulos supermarkets this year, which would bring its portfolio up to 33. Meanwhile, the company's first Bulgarian unit is due to open in 2008.
Germany
Metro-owned hypermarket Real has announced that its portfolio of newly acquired Géant stores could be rebranded to Real by December. However, there are to be no changes to the stores' ranges until the acquisition is approved by the EU in October, the company said. Chief executive officer Martin Ender said that he expected the Real network to grow by another ten stores by 2008.
Brazil
According to reports in the Brazilian press, the country's central bank has authorised Carrefour's local subsidiary to set up a bank named Banco Carrefour. The operation will be based in Sao Paulo.
Canada
A&P Canada, the parent company of the Loeb and Food Basics chains, said that it would fight any charges that may be laid against it for opening on Labour Day. A spokeswoman for the retailer said that demand was high during the holiday period and that after years of watching its competitors violate the Ontario Retail Business Holidays Act with little consequence, it had also decided to challenge the regulations. Under the law, all Ontario businesses must be closed for Labour Day with the exception of book or magazine stores under 2,400 square feet, pharmacies under 7,500 square feet, flower shops and gas stations.
United States
America's largest brewer Anheuser-Busch Cos is to launch an internet site in February called Bud.TV, designed to target a new generation of young beer consumers. The site, which will have seven different 'channels', will be aimed at people between the ages of 21 and 27, and will feature sport, stand-up comedy and reality shows, as well as advertisements for Budweiser and Bud Lite.
Germany
Aldi has placed a series of full colour double page advertisements in German newspapers stating that it will freeze the price of around 200 items ahead of a substantial VAT rise on 1 January 2007. The increase from a VAT rate of 16% to 19% will affect products including beverages, beauty care, household and tobacco. The retailer plans to absorb the increases itself.
United States
Wal-Mart is installing more than 2,000 new photo-processing kiosks in a bid to slash queuing times in its stores. The new kiosks, which are supplied by Kodak, can be used by two customers at a time. Wal-Mart said it expected to see a significant rise in in-store instant-print sales as a result of the installations.
Carrefour is to invest £67m each year between 2006 and 2008 as it concentrates on expanding its network of Greek stores. The retailer is expected to open up to 20 more Champion Marinopoulos supermarkets this year, which would bring its portfolio up to 33. Meanwhile, the company's first Bulgarian unit is due to open in 2008.
Germany
Metro-owned hypermarket Real has announced that its portfolio of newly acquired Géant stores could be rebranded to Real by December. However, there are to be no changes to the stores' ranges until the acquisition is approved by the EU in October, the company said. Chief executive officer Martin Ender said that he expected the Real network to grow by another ten stores by 2008.
Brazil
According to reports in the Brazilian press, the country's central bank has authorised Carrefour's local subsidiary to set up a bank named Banco Carrefour. The operation will be based in Sao Paulo.
Canada
A&P Canada, the parent company of the Loeb and Food Basics chains, said that it would fight any charges that may be laid against it for opening on Labour Day. A spokeswoman for the retailer said that demand was high during the holiday period and that after years of watching its competitors violate the Ontario Retail Business Holidays Act with little consequence, it had also decided to challenge the regulations. Under the law, all Ontario businesses must be closed for Labour Day with the exception of book or magazine stores under 2,400 square feet, pharmacies under 7,500 square feet, flower shops and gas stations.
United States
America's largest brewer Anheuser-Busch Cos is to launch an internet site in February called Bud.TV, designed to target a new generation of young beer consumers. The site, which will have seven different 'channels', will be aimed at people between the ages of 21 and 27, and will feature sport, stand-up comedy and reality shows, as well as advertisements for Budweiser and Bud Lite.
Germany
Aldi has placed a series of full colour double page advertisements in German newspapers stating that it will freeze the price of around 200 items ahead of a substantial VAT rise on 1 January 2007. The increase from a VAT rate of 16% to 19% will affect products including beverages, beauty care, household and tobacco. The retailer plans to absorb the increases itself.
United States
Wal-Mart is installing more than 2,000 new photo-processing kiosks in a bid to slash queuing times in its stores. The new kiosks, which are supplied by Kodak, can be used by two customers at a time. Wal-Mart said it expected to see a significant rise in in-store instant-print sales as a result of the installations.
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