November 18 – UK’s John Lewis and Waitrose Create New Concept Store
The retailers will launch a customer-centric concept shop at which services and experiences, led by expert staff, will offer unique opportunities for customer to experience product. If the concept is successful, John Lewis may roll it out throughout the country. From John Lewis Partnership
November 18 – Chilean-Based Falabella Announces Growth
Chilean retailer Falabella an increase of 1% in its third quarter results for 2019. Consolidated revenues reached USD 3 billion. Deceleration was explained by a 0.8% decrease in retail businesses in Chile and the performance of Argentina. From Falabella
November 15 – JD.com Announces Net Revenue Growth
China’s JD.com has announced 28.7% increase in its third quarter net revenues to USD 18.9 billion. JD.com reported annual active customer accounts increased to 334.4 million in the twelve months prior to the close of the third quarter. From JD.com
November 15 – Walmart Asda Sales Down
Asda, Walmart’s UK business, announced a decrease in sales by .5% in the third quarter. Walmart’s CEO sights concerns about Brexit as a top reason for decreased consumer spending. From Asda
November 14 – South Africa’s SPAR Reports Growth
Year-end results from SPAR showed 8.4% turnover growth to USD 7.5 billion. Sales increased more than 67% in Africa, the retailer’s core market. Sales increases were also significant in Ireland, with more than a 22% increase and in Switzerland with a 9.5% increase. From SPAR
November 14 – Canada’s Loblaw Tests Fulfillment Center for Online Groceries
Loblaw is planning to pilot an automated warehouse inside one of its Toronto-based Superstore locations for fulfillment of online grocery orders. The facility will be operational in 2020. The From Supermarket News
November 13 – Australia’s Worthworth and Caltex Open Caltex Worthworth Metro Store
This new store, which was designed and created by the two Australian brands, is a new benchmark of convenience for consumers aiming to fulfill their convenience shopping needs when on the go. A second store is planned later in November. From Wolworths Group
November 13 – Alibaba Plans to Open New Taobo Store in Malaysia
Following the success of a pop-up store in Mytown Shopping Centre in Kuala Lumpur, Alibaba plans to open a retail store in the shopping center. The store will be a partnership between three parties: Alibabab, Mytown and a local retailer, Lumahgo New Retail. From Inside Retail
November 13 – Colruyt builds New Distribution Center in Belgium
A new 18,000 square meter distribution center to service the Collect & Go online shopping service of Colruyt Group will open in 2021 in Londerzeel, Belgium. The new distribution center support Colruyt’s online growth. Article Written in Dutch. From Gondola
November 12 – Alibaba Sets 11.11 Shopping Festival Record
Topping 2018’s 11.11 Shopping Festival sales by 26%, Alibaba reported USD 38.4 billion in gross merchandise volume in 24 hours of sales. This event, created by Alibaba, has been held for eleven years and in 2019, the total number of delivery orders reached a new high, 1.292 billion, up 24% over 2018. From Alizila
November 12 – Africa’s Jumai Grows 19% in Q3
With marketplaces in 14 countries in Africa, online retailer, Jumai, has seen positive growth in Q3, almost doubling its orders to 7 million, increasing customer base 56% and posted revenue growth by 19%. From Tech Crunch
November 8 – Chile’s Falabella Plans New Logistics Center in Peru
In an effort to service its formats, Saga Falabella, Tottus, Sodimac and Maestro Falabella has invested USD 38 million to build a new, modern distribution center in Lurin, Peru. Article Written in Spanish. From Peru Retail
November 8 – Amazon Canada to Build Its First Distribution Center in Quebec
Amazon Canada plans to open a new distribution center to employ more than 300 full-time employees in Quebec in 2020. This comes after the September announcement that Amazon Canada will open its sixth fulfillment center in Ontario. From European Supermarket Magazine
November 7 – Fnac Darty Opens First Outlet in Luxembourg
The opening of this store supports the expansion strategy by Fnac Darty, which puts focus on the Benelux region. From Fnac Darty
November 7 – Philippine’s Robinsons Retail Sees Dip in Profits
Despite seeing growth in net sales, Robinsons Retail saw a drop in net income. The drop may be attributed to changes in the method of reporting sales by the Philippine Financial Reporting Standard. Sales growth is attributed to opening of new stores over the past year as well as opening of a Rustans Super Centers, a retailer that falls under the Robinsons banner. From Inside Retail
November 6 – Amazon Australia Offers Buy-Now-Pay-Later Option
Installment-based payments will be offered through Amazon Australia’s partner, Zip Co., in the Buy-Now-Pay-Later platform. Buy-Now-Pay-Later options have become increasingly popular with Millennial and Gen Z consumers as a means of bypassing the interest rates and regulations associated with opening credit cards. From Reuters
November 6 – Marks & Spencer’s Sales and Profits Fall
Following poor performance in clothing and home categories, Marks & Spencer’s profits fall. The department store chain’s sales dipped 2.1% to GPP 4.8 billion and profit before tax. From Retail Week
November 6 – Ahold Delhaize Report Increased Online Sales
Ahold Delhaize reported online sales up more than 29% and net sales up almost 3%. From Ahold Delhaize
November 1 – UK’s Argos Warns Shoppers About Potential Brexit Price Increases
Argos, owned by Sainsbury’s, advised shoppers on the first page of its Christmas catalog that they reserve the right to change prices based on the Brexit outcome. From Retail Week
November 1 – Russia’s Lenta Opens a Hypermarket in Saint-Petersburg
One of Russia’s largest retailers, Lenta, opened a 14,180 square meter hypermarket in Saint-Petersburg, stocking more than 32,000 SKUs. Lenta operates 248 hypermarkets in 88 cities across Russia and 131 supermarkets in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Siberia, Urals and the Central region. From Lenta Investor
