| Global retail industry news |  |
- Analysts mixed about how drug ruling will affect retailers
Shoppers Drug Mart and Katz Group successfully challenged a regulation in Canada that said private-label generic drugs could not be reimbursed under the Ontario Drug Benefits program. Analysts, however, are not certain how the ruling will affect retailers' earnings. Keith Howlett, an analyst at Desjardins Securities, said that major pharmacy retailers will launch private-label generic drugs of their own. Financial Post (Canada)/Trading Desk blog (07 Feb.)       - Tim Hortons to open up to 120 stores in the Middle East
Canadian coffee and doughnut chain Tim Hortons has signed a licensing deal that calls for up to 120 locations in the Persian Gulf during the next five years. Licensee Dubai-based Apparel Group operates brands including Cold Stone Creamery, Kenneth Cole and Tommy Hilfiger. Tim Hortons has about 3,600 coffee shops in Canada and the US. Google/Agence France-Presse (05 Feb.)  | The Super Bowl isn't the only way to reach 100 million people.
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Learn the best way to launch a product or service on Facebook.
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 - Retail sales in Britain rose in January, BRC reports
The British Retail Consortium reported an increase in retail sales in the UK in January after severe winter weather contributed to a drop in December sales. Like-for-like sales were up 2.3% last month compared with the same month the previous year. "On the surface, this is the best sales growth since last March, but that's not the whole story," said Stephen Robertson, the BRC's director general. "Comparisons are with a feeble, snow-hit performance a year ago." BBC (08 Feb.) , The Independent (London) (08 Feb.) , The Guardian (London) (08 Feb.) - Moss Bros to sell stores back to Hugo Boss
The 16-year franchise agreement between Moss Bros and Hugo Boss is about to come to an end as the UK menswear retailer sells 15 stores back to the German fashion giant. Moss Bros CEO Brian Brick said the deal is "transformational." The company plans to use the proceeds from the sale to finance new plans and overhaul core locations. BBC (07 Feb.)  | Blog like the big brands
Sony's Sukhjit Ghag joins practitioners from Cisco, Ford, McDonalds and Proctor & Gamble to share insights into using blogs to expand your business. 23 blogging experts give you strategies for engaging your fans & growing your brand at the Blogging Success Summit. Register today! |
 - Thailand's Central Group expects sales to grow by 12%
Kobchai Chirathivat, CEO at Thailand's largest retail company, Central Group, said that business is expected to be "challenging" in 2011. However, an improving economic outlook likely will help boost sales by about 12% at Central Group. "We are seeing growth coming from mergers and acquisitions, value-added businesses and expansion into both domestic and overseas markets," Kobchai said. "Concerns about political uncertainties are still ongoing. We're hoping that the government's economic measures would help ease people's cost of living and increase spending." Reuters (08 Feb.) - Some Indian consumers stock up as food prices rise
A growing number of Indian shoppers are trying to pre-empt an expected rise in food prices by stocking up and buying in groups to get discounts. "A group-buying phenomenon is emerging as people buy in large quantities," said Kishore Biyani, managing director at Pantaloon Retail. Experts say that group buying is not a new phenomenon in India, but some say it is picking up. LiveMint.com/The Wall Street Journal (India) (08 Feb.)  | Health care reform got you down? Learn more from UnitedHealthcare on how the federal changes to medical benefits will affect you and your employees. This comprehensive guide highlights incentives for enrollment and a timeline of important dates and deadlines. Don't let them pass you by—Learn more here! |
 - EU to propose safeguards for online shoppers
Viviane Reding, justice commissioner for the EU, proposed draft plans last summer that would give online shoppers some common rights of redress if, for instance, the products they purchased do not arrive. Now, the European Commission is poised to introduce common legal standards for the region's online shoppers. Member nations are sceptical about the plans, but Reding is not a stranger to pushing through controversial ideas. Reuters (07 Feb.)  | 6 Steps to (Re)Building a Top Management Team
Many mergers and acquisitions fail, argue the authors of this case study, as a result of extreme stress on senior management teams. Drawing on the experience of Hewlett-Packard, Cisco, General Electric and Adobe, the authors propose six guidelines improving relations and performance. Order here. |
 | Spotlight on Grocery |  | | | - Australian consumers reduce spending on food
For the first time in three decades, shoppers in Australia cut their spending on food in the run up to the Christmas holiday. "This makes 2010 the worst year for food retail sales growth since the start of the survey in 1983 and the first time sales volumes have fallen outright," said Matthew Hassan, a senior economist at Westpac. Overall, the retail sector experienced a 0.3% decline in the final three months of 2010. The Australian (08 Feb.) - Supermarkets emerge as success story in Russia
Russian supermarkets are enjoying a surge in sales and the trend is expected to continue as the country's economy improves. In 2010, the retail food market had turnover of 7.1 trillion rubles or about $239 billion. The market is growing at a pace of 13% with leading retailers seeing growth as high as 40%. "Supermarkets are one of Russia's greatest success stories in the last few years," said Roland Nash, chief strategist at Verno Capital. The Moscow Times (08 Feb.) | NRF News | | | | - Mobile, social top talk on BIG Show '11 EXPO hall floor
What were retailers talking about on the BIG Show '11 EXPO hall floor? Mobile, social media and then more mobile. Watch a three-minute video featuring industry executives on the EXPO hall floor, including Jill Puleri of IBM and Bill Martin of ShopperTrak, as they discuss the hottest trends from the show. Watch the video.
| SmartQuote | | | |  | If your company has a clean-desk policy, the company is nuts and you're nuts to stay there."
--Thomas J. Peters,
American management expert and writer  |
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