To follow is a brief review of retail news from around the world:

April 16 – JD.Com Plans to Open 1000 Stores Per Day
The Chinese online retail giant opened a store a week in March and announced that their goal is to continue their rapid expansion of franchised convenient stores to reach 1 million in 5 years. From MINGTIAandI

April 16 – Alibaba’s Tmall Launches New Luxury Loyalty Scheme
Tmall’s invite-only Luxury Pavilion Club has more than 100,000 members which spend $159,000 or more per year and 33% of the Luxury Pavilion Members with birthyears after 1990. From CPPLuxury

April 13 – Portugal’s Sonae MC Supermarket to Open 70 Stores in Next Two Years
Under their store name, Continente Modelo, the retailer plans to invest around €200 million in these new stores, creating 3000 new jobs. From European Supermarket Magazine

April 13 – Brazilian Retailer GPA, Owned by France’s Casino, Reported First Quarter Net Revenue Increases of 7.5%
Same store sales grew 4.4 percent for stores open at least 12 months. From Reuters

April 12 – Philippine’s Puregold Reports 5.7% Growth to Consolidated Net Income
The retailer reported net income as P5.84 billion for 2017, registering better than expected same stores sales growth (SSSG). From Puregold Price Club Inc.

April 12 – Dutch Drugstore Chain, Hema, Remains in the Red Due to Financing Costs
The retailer’s debt refinancing fees increased sharply over 2016’s interest charges on debt.  In spite of this, the retailer store revamps are beginning to see benefit. From Dutch News

April 12 – Carrefour Sees Challenges Throughout Europe
As with many other European retailers, Carrefour is fighting to maintain growth in difficult operating conditions. From Retail Analysis

April 11 – UK’s Tesco Sees Rebound in Profits
Tesco’s pre-tax profits of GBP 1.3 billion for the year to February 24, up from GBP 145 for the previous year. From BBC.com

April 9 – Falabella Plans to Invest Heavily in Latin Market
Falabella has an investment plan for US $ 984 million that will be used to build 23 new stores and three shopping centers in the Latin American market. *This article written in Spanish. From Peru Retail

April 7 – Auchan Retail Ukraine, Part of France’s Auchan Holding Will Open Its First Superstore Format in Ukraine
April will see the opening of the first “superstore” formats of the retailer will be 3500 square meters and will open in Kharkiv, in northeast Ukraine. From Open For Business

April 7 – Denmark’s Coop Sees Profits Double
The retailer’s grocery profits more than doubled last year’s, increasing from approximately €27.66 million to approximately €63.25 million. From European Supermarket Magazine

April 6 – Japan’s Second Largest Convenient Store Operator, Family Mart Anticipated to Top JPY 76 Billion in Profit
This figure would represent a 14% gain for the retail group which operates more than 17,000 stores in Japan. From Reuters

April 6 – Walmart Mexico Reports a 13.5% Jump in Same-Store Sales for March
Walmart, Mexico’s largest retailer, reported a 13.5% jump in same-store sales for March, compared to the same month the previous year.  The increase is the largest of its kind for any month over the past 12 years. *This article is written in Spanish. From El Financiero

April 5 – Dutch Retailer, SPAR International Plans 20 Store Openings in Sri Lanka
Present in 42 countries world-wide, SPAR plans to open 20 new stores in Sri Lanka, starting with its first store in Thalawathugoda. From Mirror Business

April 5 – IKEA Aims to Grow Market Share in Australia
The world’s largest furniture retailer aims to grow its market share in the Australian market from 6 to 12%. To do so, the retailer will have to consider increasing the number of distribution centers, store format and reliance on e-sales. From 9 News

April 3 – Mexico’s OXXO to Open in Peru
As part of its expansion plan, the Mexican convenience store giant plans to open stores in Peru later this year. *This article written in Spanish. From El Financiero

April 3 – Australian Housewares Retailer, House, to Launch in the UK
Global Retail Brands’ parent company of retailer, House, plans to open four stores in April with plans to grow to 75 stores throughout the UK in the next three years. From Gift Guide

April 1 – Australian Retail Group Westfarmers Looks to Sell Their UK Homebase Stores
The retail group planned to rebrand the stores in the UK under their Australian store name, Bunnings, after a GBP 340 million takeover, but now is looking to sell the 250 stores in the UK. From This Is Money

The International Business Council is a special interest group of IHA members, dedicated to helping its membership market and sell their products internationally by sharing information, providing networking opportunities and offering programs to assist, support, and educate. Membership is free to all regular, IHA members – visit the IBC website to learn more.