Carrefour, France: The supermarket chain is secretly preparing to launch a new 400-line low-cost own-brand range, according to French newspaper Le Figaro. The range - code named 'value' - is expected to replace its current own brand, which is considered expensive compared with discounter rival Lidl.
Carrefour is thought to have been hit hard by shoppers trading down to discounters, and its French hypermarkets are struggling against both smaller supermarkets for grocery sales and specialist retailers for non-food sales.
Wal-Mart, USA: Wal-Mart will take a 'thoughtfully aggressive' approach to 'extraordinary opportunities' that could become available during the recession, its chief executive Lee Scott told analysts this week.
Scott suggested that the retailer may buy up sites from other retailers hit by the economic downturn, thought to include bankrupt Californian department store chain Mervyns. Wal-Mart was also interested in developing smaller store formats, online sales and financial services, he added.
Rewe Penny, Germany: German discounters Rewe and Aldi have kicked off a price war, promoting price cuts of up to 34% on staple food lines and taking out double-page national newspaper adverts.
Rewe spokesman Ulrich Lissek said the price reductions were down to reduced purchase prices being passed on to customers, but it is thought the retailers are capitalising on the financial crisis by playing on consumers' concerns, to battle for market share.
Metro Group, Germany: Metro Group has released its financial report for Q3 and the first nine months of 2008, showing overall group sales up 7.1% to €47.8bn for the nine months to 30 September.
International sales grew by 10.6% to €29.3bn, up 3.4% in Western Europe and 19.3% in Eastern Europe. The group showed "strength in a difficult environment", said chief executive Dr Eckhard Cordes.
The retailer has also opened a 41,000sqm distribution centre in Moscow serving its Russian cash & carry, Real and Media Markt stores.
Carrefour is thought to have been hit hard by shoppers trading down to discounters, and its French hypermarkets are struggling against both smaller supermarkets for grocery sales and specialist retailers for non-food sales.
Wal-Mart, USA: Wal-Mart will take a 'thoughtfully aggressive' approach to 'extraordinary opportunities' that could become available during the recession, its chief executive Lee Scott told analysts this week.
Scott suggested that the retailer may buy up sites from other retailers hit by the economic downturn, thought to include bankrupt Californian department store chain Mervyns. Wal-Mart was also interested in developing smaller store formats, online sales and financial services, he added.
Rewe Penny, Germany: German discounters Rewe and Aldi have kicked off a price war, promoting price cuts of up to 34% on staple food lines and taking out double-page national newspaper adverts.
Rewe spokesman Ulrich Lissek said the price reductions were down to reduced purchase prices being passed on to customers, but it is thought the retailers are capitalising on the financial crisis by playing on consumers' concerns, to battle for market share.
Metro Group, Germany: Metro Group has released its financial report for Q3 and the first nine months of 2008, showing overall group sales up 7.1% to €47.8bn for the nine months to 30 September.
International sales grew by 10.6% to €29.3bn, up 3.4% in Western Europe and 19.3% in Eastern Europe. The group showed "strength in a difficult environment", said chief executive Dr Eckhard Cordes.
The retailer has also opened a 41,000sqm distribution centre in Moscow serving its Russian cash & carry, Real and Media Markt stores.
No comments yet