China Leads Rest Of World In Adoption Of Mobile E-Commerce April 20, 2016: 12:00 AM EST In China, the number of consumers who said they had made online purchases using a mobile device jumped from 18 percent in 2014 to 43 percent in 2015, according to the PwC Total Retail Survey 2016. In contrast, the global average increased from 12 percent to 20 percent during the same period. In general, e-commerce is growing faster in emerging markets than it does in developed countries. China leads the way, with mobile devices becoming the dominant channel for retail purchases, with 20 percent of Chinese respondents saying they made online purchases daily. Emily Backus, "Mobile Dominates Among Chinese Shoppers", Women’s Wear Daily, April 20, 2016, © Fairchild Fashion Media

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Carrefour Says Beijing SiYuanQiao Store Chosen One Of China's Best April 20, 2016: 12:00 AM EST Carrefour said its Beijing SiYuanQiao store was selected as one of the Top 10 Best Stores in China in 2015 by Linkshop. Announced during the Global Retail Innovative Summit 2016, the award focuses on newly built stores that offer shoppers with innovative and advanced concepts, techniques, or experiences. Winners were selected from among 500 new stores by the public and by a jury. "The Carrefour Beijing SiYuanQiao hypermarket awarded “Best Store in China in 2015”", Carrefour, April 20, 2016, © Carrefour

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Retailers Transform The Physical Store On Their Way To Adaptive Retail April 20, 2016: 12:00 AM EST Retailers are changing the nature and features of their physical stores in order to combine the best of brick-and-mortar operations with multichannel business. Today’s store functions as a showroom, a distribution center, and a multichannel hub, simultaneously. Retailers seeking to implement adaptive retail need to implement the four-point strategy for multichannel success: they must understand their customer; evaluate their store base and distribution network; model the revenue and the cost side; and choose the migration and format strategy. "Adaptive retail: Redefining the role of the store to improve competitiveness", Accenture Strategy, April 20, 2016, © Accenture Strategy

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Walmart Walks The Talk On Way To Seamless Shopping April 20, 2016: 12:00 AM EST Walmart is combining its various assets, including its 2.3 million employees, 11,500 retail stores, e-commerce websites and mobile apps, and supply chain, as well as new capabilities and fresh thinking, to offer customers seamless shopping, CEO Doug McMillion said. According to the CEO, the company is investing about $2.7 billion over two years to raise wages, provide staff with education and training to empower Walmart employees. Also, the company is speeding up implementation of e-commerce and technology platforms worldwide, including the expansion of online shopping to new markets, in-store and in-club pickup, and the acquisition of China-based online retailer Yihaodian. "What is Seamless Shopping? Q&A with CEO Doug McMillon", Walmart , April 20, 2016, © Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

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Products Sold In UK Supermarkets Become Smaller, But Not Cheaper April 20, 2016: 12:00 AM EST Many products sold in UK supermarkets have become smaller although their prices remained the same. Among the products are the toilet paper products Standard Andrex, which has 221 sheets, down from 240 sheets; and Andrex Puppies On A Roll, which used to have 221 sheets, but now has 190. Several manufacturers justified their move to reduce the sizes of their products, with Andrex saying it has invested significantly to improve the quality of its products; Percol said recyclable packaging costs more; and MCVities said its new pack size means it can offer lower prices and more promotions. "Discover the latest supermarket products that have shrunk", Which?, April 20, 2016, © Which?

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Walmart Reports 2.8 Percent Revenue Gain In FY 2016 April 20, 2016: 12:00 AM EST Walmart reported revenue grew 2.8 percent, or $13.7 billion, to $499.4 billion in fiscal year 2016, compared with the previous year. Consolidated net sales decreased $3.6 billion, or 0.7 percent, for FY 2016 and increased $9.2 billion, or 1.9 percent, for 2015, compared with the previous fiscal year. Net sales for fiscal 2016 were adversely affected by $17.1 billion, or 3.5 percent, due to fluctuations in currency exchange rates and $1.9 billion decrease in fuel sales due to lower selling prices at the company’s Sam’s Club business. Comparable store and club sales in the US, including fuel, grew 0.3 percent and 0.5 percent in FY 2016 and 2015, respectively. "Walmart 2016 Annual Report", Walmart , April 20, 2016, © Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

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Wal-Mart Announces Changes To Its Board Of Directors April 20, 2016: 12:00 AM EST Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., announced changes to its board of directors the company says are aimed at strengthening it for the future. Also, the retailer said those changes are also to help ensure the board maintains its independence, diverse backgrounds of directors, and breadth of experience. Effective following the company’s June 3, 2016, annual shareholders’ meeting in Arkansas, the changes include the planned departure of directors Aida Alvarez, Roger Corbett, Mike Duke, and Jim Walton from the board. Also, Steuart Walton has been nominated for election to the board. "Walmart Positions Board of Directors for the Future", Walmart , April 20, 2016, © Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

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Aldi's Growth Threatens Woolworths-Coles Duopoly In Australia April 18, 2016: 12:00 AM EST Aldi Australia is expected to challenge the Woolworths-Coles duopoly in the country’s retail market, according to market analysts. In 2013–2016, the discount retailer’s sales jumped 60 percent to $8 billion, according to broker Morgan Stanley. By 2020, Aldi’s sales are predicted to grow by almost 90 percent to $15 billion. Sales growth will be driven by the increase in number of Aldi’s stores from 373 to 628 and by the rise in its market penetration from 36.8 percent to 54.9 percent. Sue Mitchell, "Aldi Australia sales forecast to tip $15b by 2020", Sydney Morning Herald, April 18, 2016, © Fairfax Media

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Amazon Finds It Hard To Beat Up Rivals In Grocery Industry April 17, 2016: 12:00 AM EST Online retailer Amazon’s grocery delivery service, AmazonFresh, has failed to grow as fast as the company hoped and market analysts expected. In contrast, the company’s Amazon Prime loyalty program and Amazon Web Services online storage service have become multi-billion-dollar brands and boosted market value to almost $300 billion. Its inability to offer delivery prices lower than those offered by rivals and geography prevent Walmart from expanding its grocery delivery business beyond the largest urban centers. Wal-Mart Stores, which claims to have a store within a 5-mile radius of 70 percent of Americans, is expected to maintain its hold on the number 1 position in the grocery trade, the only market segment it outperforms Amazon. Jeremy Bowman, "Amazon still can't crack the grocery industry", Business Insider, April 17, 2016, © Business Insider Inc.

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Carrefour Reports Weaker Sales In 1Q 2016 April 16, 2016: 12:00 AM EST France-based retailer Carrefour SA reported sales dropped 4.3 percent to €20.1 billion in the first quarter of 2016, compared with the same quarter in the previous year. According to the company, its revenue performance was adversely affected by currency losses and lower revenue from petrol. Like-for-like sales grew 5.3 percent, and with petrol and currency losses excluded, international sales grew 6.4 percent, the company said. "FIRST QUARTER 2016 SALES", Carrefour , April 16, 2016, © Carrefour

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Lidl Ireland Managing Director Says Retailer Sells Lot More Than €1 Billion April 15, 2016: 12:00 AM EST Lidl sells “significantly more” than €1 billion worth of goods in Ireland, according to country managing director John Paul Scally. Lidl, which Kantar said accounts for about 8.5 percent of Ireland’s grocery market, plans to add 40 or 50 stores to its current total of 147 retail branches across the country. Also, the discount retailer plans to launch stores with larger and more upscale format based on the €5 million concept store in Gorey, Wexford. Mark Paul, "Lidl’s Irish sales ‘significantly’ greater than €1bn", Irish Times, April 15, 2016, © THE IRISH TIMES

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UK Online Grocery Shoppers Buying More Groceries Online, Mintel Report Says April 14, 2016: 12:00 AM EST In the UK, 29 percent of people who shop for groceries online are doing more online grocery shopping now than they did 12 months ago, according to Mintel. Data from the market research firm revealed online grocery sales are forecast to rise 13 percent to £9.8 billion in 2016, compared with about £8.6 billion in 2015. Moreover, sales are expected to expand by another 73 percent to reach £15 billion by 2020. Online grocery retailers are expected to see their sales jumped 110 percent from £1.1 billion in 2010 to about £2.3 billion in 2015. Mintel said 48 percent of UK consumers currently buy groceries online, with 11 percent doing all their grocery shopping online, and another 12 percent doing most of their grocery shopping online. "29% Of UK Online Grocery Shoppers Are Shopping For Groceries More Online Now Than A Year Ago", Mintel, April 14, 2016, © Mintel Group Ltd.

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Tesco Picks Former Jumbo Operations Director Hoy To Lead Large Stores Business April 14, 2016: 12:00 AM EST Tesco appointed former Jumbo operations director Duncan Hoy as managing director of its large stores business. Reporting directly to newly promoted UK chief operating officer Tony Hoggett, Hoy will lead efforts to revive trading at Tesco’s superstore and Extra estate. Formerly a captain in the Gurkhas, Hoy has been with Dutch supermarket chain Jumbo since 2013. "Tesco appoints former Jumbo ops director to lead large stores", Retail Analysis, April 14, 2016, © The Institute of Grocery Distribution and IGD Services Limited

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Metro's Real Hypermarket Unit Names Two New Co-Leaders April 14, 2016: 12:00 AM EST Metro Group’s hypermarket chain Real announced the appointment of chief financial officer Henning Gieseke and chief merchandise officer Patrick Muller as co-chairmen of its Management Board. Didier Fleury, the current chairman, is named into a new strategic role in the Metro Group and will report directly to Metro AG management board chairman Olaf Koch. As a result of Real’s senior management revamp, the retailer will have four leaders instead of the previous five. "Generation change: Real to have dual leadership in the future - Didier Fleury to have new role in the METRO GROUP", METRO GROUP, April 14, 2016, © METRO GROUP

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Sally Beauty Installs Profitect's Loss-Prevention System April 13, 2016: 12:00 AM EST Sally Beauty Supply implemented a prescriptive analytics system from Profitect in order to improve its loss-prevention practices. Upon implementation, however, the company realized the system is providing other benefits, such as enabling departments to look at point-of-sale data gathered by the system to analyze what customers are buying and how to upsell or cross-sell those customers. Another feature of the system that company executives like is that instead of generating huge volumes of reports, the system analyzes the data and informs store managers where losses occur and how to correct the problem. Lauri Giesen, "A Beautiful Solution", National Retail Federation, April 13, 2016, © National Retail Federation, Inc.

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Tesco Says 2015–2016 Results Show Retailer Is On Track To Recovery April 13, 2016: 12:00 AM EST Tesco said group sales grew 0.1 percent to £48.4 billion for the year 2015–2016, compared with the previous year, according to preliminary results. Operating profit before exceptionals increased 1.1 percent, while statutory operating profit dropped from £5.750 billion in the previous year to £1.046 billion. Retail operating cash flow jumped 39 percent to £2.6 billion, while net debt was reduced by 40 percent to £5.1 billion. In the UK, like-for-like sales grew 0.9 percent in the fourth quarter, while group like-for-like sales rose 1.6 percent. "Preliminary Results 2015/16: A YEAR OF SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS", Tesco, April 13, 2016, © Tesco

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Tesco CEO Issues Profit Warning; Cites Impact Of Turnaround Costs On Ability To Meet Earnings Expectations April 13, 2016: 12:00 AM EST Shares of retailer Tesco PLC’s stock fell 7.6 percent, their sharpest decline since 2014, following CEO David Lewis’ warning that his turnaround efforts will adversely affect profit growth in 2016. Tesco lost £1.2 billion in market value, after Lewis said profit growth “won’t be smooth,” due to the turnaround, which involves cutting of prices across fresh food. Lewis is in his second year as CEO, leading efforts to revive Tesco’s sales and revenue performance and improve its ability to compete with discounters Aldi and Lidl. Sam Chambers, "Tesco Shares Tumble as CEO Lewis Cools Earnings Expectations", Bloomberg, April 13, 2016, © Bloomberg L.P.

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Retailers Find 4 Ways To Digital Marketing Success April 13, 2016: 12:00 AM EST Retailers are adopting four ways of using digital marketing to influence consumers. To encourage consumers to visit their stores, retailers are using digital technology to offer local information. Data from Google revealed 75 percent of shoppers who find local information in search results are more likely to visit stores. Once consumers are in the store, retailers use digital to improve shoppers’ in-store experience. For example, Sephora lets shoppers use their smartphones while shopping in-store to search for product recommendations through the company’s Sephora App. Also, retailers are finding out that email is the most effective channel to promote personalized interactions with consumers. Data from Criteo showed 80 percent of retail marketers are using personalized email marketing strategies. Mobile is a vital component of retailers’ digital marketing success. According to Forrester Research, m-commerce is forecast to grow so fast that it may potentially account for 54 percent of total e-commerce revenue by 2018. Larisa Bedgood , "4 Ways Retailers Are Making Big Strides in Digital Marketing", CustomerThink , April 13, 2016, © CustomerThink Corporation

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Wegmans Is America's Favorite Grocery Retailer, Market Force Study Reveals April 13, 2016: 12:00 AM EST Wegmans was voted America’s favorite grocery retailer, according to a 2016 consumer study of more than 10,000 consumers conducted by Market Force Information. Earning a score of 76 percent, Wegmans was followed by number 2, Publix, which got a score of 75 percent. Trade Joe’s scored 73 percent, 5 percent lower than its 2015 grade, was at third place. Hy-Vee and Aldi took fourth and fifth places, respectively, to round up the top 5 favorite grocery retailers in the country. "New Market Force Information Study Finds Wegmans and Publix are America’s Favorite Grocery Retailers", Market Force, April 13, 2016, © Market Force Information, Inc.

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Spain's Leading Retailers Maintained Shares Of The Market In February 2016 Quarter, Study Shows April 13, 2016: 12:00 AM EST In Spain, the leading retailers have maintained their respective market shares during the 12-week period ending February 28, 2016, according to Kantar Worldpanel. Things were not as good for traditional and specialty retailers, seeing their market share fall by 3.7 percent. Discount retailer Lidl remains the market’s fastest-growing chain, seeing its market share rise to 3.8 percent in the period, from 3.3 in the previous year. Mercadona also expanded its share by 0.3 points and holding on to 22.3 percent of the market. Carrefour was able to preserve its 8.6 percent share, while Grupo DIA also held on to the 8.2 percent market share it had in 2015. Florencio García, "Big retailers fight back against consumer caution in Spain", Kantar Worldpanel, April 13, 2016, © Kantar Worldpanel

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Sephora, DFS Boost Asia Business By Adopting E-Commerce April 13, 2016: 12:00 AM EST Beauty and personal care company Sephora and travel retailer DFS have expanded their e-commerce operations in Asia, a market expected to generate $1.4 trillion in online revenue by 2020. After acquiring regional e-commerce company Luxola, Sephora has strengthened its overall business in South East Asia by building its online brand in the region. Speaking at the eTail Asia conference in Singapore, Sephora Digital chief operating officer Ronan Hurley said the strength of the company’s brand name has helped Sephora build its credibility in Asia. For its part, DFS has adopted an online-to-offline approach to e-commerce, according to the company’s vice president of e-travel retail. "Sephora, DFS embrace e-commerce in Asia", Warc, April 13, 2016, © Warc

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Sephora's Color IQ Tool Helps Ramp Up Loyalty Program April 13, 2016: 12:00 AM EST Sephora’s Color IQ tool, which scans and captures a customer’s exact skin tone and matches it with a code from the company’s “shade library,” has helped the beauty retailer strengthen its loyalty program. Developed in partnership with the Pantone Color Institute, the Color IQ tool helps shoppers determine the foundation and concealer that are the best scientific match for their complexions. Sephora said the tool has created 14 million Color IQ matches, prompting the company to create the Lip IQ version for lipstick shades. Hilary Milnes, "How Color IQ, Sephora's shade-matching skin care tool, boosts brand loyalty", Digiday, April 13, 2016, © Digiday

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Hotel Chain To Plant Vegetable Gardens At A Quarter Of Its Facilities April 13, 2016: 12:00 AM EST France’s AccorHotels announced it will try to reduce food waste in its 3,900 hotels by 30 percent by planting vegetable gardens at many of its facilities. The group said it generates 25-30 percent of its revenue by serving 150 million meals a year. It implement its plan by first determining how much food it is wasting. Restaurants will be required to weigh and record food that is discarded to best determine how to cut waste. The company said it is supporting “urban agriculture” by planting 1,000 vegetable gardens at its hotels over the next four years. The global chain includes the Pullman, Sofitel, Novotel, Mercure and Ibis hotel chains. "Major hotel chain to grow vegetables at 1000 properties to cut food waste", The Guardian, April 13, 2016, via Agence France-Presse, © Agence France-Presse

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Wal-Mart Works With ChannelAdvisor To Expand Online Product Lineup April 12, 2016: 12:00 AM EST Wal-Mart Stores Inc. announced a partnership with software company ChannelAdvisor Corp. as part the retailer’s efforts to increase the number of products on its online store. According to Wal-Mart, the deal is expected to make it easier for retailers and vendors working with ChannelAdvisor to bring their products to Wal-Mart’s website. Expanding its online offerings, which currently stand at about 9 million items, is one of Wal-Mart’s priorities for its online business in 2016. Nathan Layne and Mari Saito, "Wal-Mart ties with ChannelAdvisor to boost online assortment", Reuters, April 12, 2016, © Thomson Reuters

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Ulta Beauty Plans Faster Expansion In 2016; Prepares To Compete With Segment Rivals April 12, 2016: 12:00 AM EST After opening 77 new stores, and increasing its total retail space by 9.5 percent to reach 874 stores in 2015, personal care and cosmetics retailer Ulta Beauty plans to expand even faster in 2016. Since opening its first store 25 years ago, the company has seen fast-growing revenue, with sales rising 21 percent to $3.9 billion in 2015, compared with sales in 2014. During that period, the company reported comparable sales grew 11.8 percent. Ulta Beauty’s rapid growth and expansion poses a serious competitive threat to rivals, such as Macy’s, which has a large beauty department, and beauty retailer Sephora. Walter Loeb, "Ulta Beauty: Macy's and Sephora Better Watch Out For This Fast-Growing Beauty Retailer", Forbes , April 12, 2016, © Forbes.com LLC™

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Alibaba Acquires Controlling Stake In Lazada For $1 Billion April 12, 2016: 12:00 AM EST China’s Internet company Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. said it will invest $1 billion to acquire a controlling stake in Singapore-based e-commerce startup Lazada Group. Marking the Chinese firm’s largest overseas acquisition ever, the acquisition of Lazada follows Alibaba’s purchase in December 2015 of Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post newspaper for $266 million. Alibaba said it was spending $500 million to buy newly issued Lazada shares and $500 more on shares owned by existing shareholders, including Rocket Internet, Tesco PLC, and AB Kinnevik. Alyssa Abkowitz et al, "Alibaba to Invest $1 Billion in E-Commerce Startup Lazada", The Wall Street Journal, April 12, 2016, © Dow Jones & Company, Inc.

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Tesco Launches IFTTT Channel To Allow Shoppers To Automatically Order Online April 12, 2016: 12:00 AM EST Tesco launched a channel on IFTTT, an automation service designed to let shoppers order groceries automatically and stay up-to-date with price changes on the retailer’s online store. Tesco Labs, the retailer’s innovation unit, is responsible for the move, which makes Tesco the first UK supermarket to launch a channel on the service. IFTTT means “If This Then That,” and allows users to connect different online accounts to activate smart actions. Shona Ghosh, "Tesco trials Amazon Dash-style automatic grocery reordering", Marketing Magazine, April 12, 2016, © Haymarket

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Rakuten Opens Business Office In Bengaluru; Eyes India's E-Commerce Market April 12, 2016: 12:00 AM EST Japan-based Internet company Rakuten opened a business office in Bengaluru. Also, the company is reportedly talking with other Internet companies, including Amazon and Flipkart, as part of its strategy to launch an e-commerce business in India. In 2014, the company opened a development center in the city. Niranjan R, "Rakuten eyes India's e-commerce market: Report", International Business Times, April 12, 2016, © International Business Times, India Edition

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Asda Awards Advertising Account To Saatchi & Saatchi April 12, 2016: 12:00 AM EST Asda appointed Publicis Groupe’s Saatchi & Saatchi as its lead advertising agency and of Zenith as its media agency. Part of the discount retailer’s Project Renewal strategic plan, the appointment of Saatchi & Saatchi and Zenith will help transform its business and improve its Save Money Live Better brand strategy. Also, as part of Project Renewal, the company will completely change its offer, ranging, and value proposition, with Asda investing £500 million in lowering prices in addition to the £1 billion announced in 2013. "Asda appoints Saatchi & Saatchi and Zenith as lead creative and media agencies", Asda, April 12, 2016, © Asda

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Walgreens Boots Alliance Sells Russian Pharmaceutical Wholesale Business To 36.6; Acquires 15 Percent Of Russian Company April 11, 2016: 12:00 AM EST Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. said it has sold its Russian pharmaceutical wholesale business, Alliance Healthcare Russia, to the country’s leading health and beauty retailer 36.6. Under the terms of the purchase deal, Walgreens Boots Alliance will own a 15-percent stake in the 36.6 group, which operates about 1,000 stores in Moscow and the surrounding region. Also, the Russian company employs about 4,800 people. "Walgreens Boots Alliance sells Alliance Healthcare Russia to 36.6 in return for 15% stake in combined group", Walgreens Boots Alliance, April 11, 2016, © Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.

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Western Companies Need To Really Understand Chinese Consumers Before Expanding Into China April 11, 2016: 12:00 AM EST Western companies planning to expand into China should strive to understand Chinese consumers, including cultural differences and attitudes that influence their buying decisions, in order to improve their chances for success. Results of a survey of more than 4,000 Chinese consumers revealed a growing sense of patriotism among millennials; Chinese millennials define superbrands as those brands that are “relevant across many aspects of consumers’ lives;” and Western brands should also focus on the country’s rural regions as potential markets. Also, Chinese women tend to be nationalists and put significant emphasis on relationships with other women; and there is a growing trend among millennials focusing on desire for self-expression. "Why Western businesses need a profound rethink on China", Landor, April 11, 2016, © Landor Associates

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Early Easter Boosts Supermarket Sales In Ireland, Kantar Worldpanel Says April 11, 2016: 12:00 AM EST Supermarket sales in Ireland grew 4.6 percent for the 12-week period ending March 27, 2016, compared with the same period in the previous year, according to Kantar Worldpanel. Growth during the period was also higher, compared with the previous month’s growth rate of 3.6 percent. According to Kantar Worldpanel director David Berry, the early Easter helped boost supermarkets’ sales. SuperValu accounted for 24.9 percent of the market, an increase of 0.1 percent year on year, retaining its hold on the top spot. Tesco posted a volume increase of 2.7 percent, compared with 1.4 percent in the previous year, while Lidl posted a sales increase of 9.5 percent. David Berry , "Early Easter boosts supermarket sales in Ireland", Kantar Worldpanel , April 11, 2016, © Kantar Worldpanel

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Americans Ask Restaurants: Where’s The Healthful Food? April 11, 2016: 12:00 AM EST A Mintel poll of American consumers found nearly half complaining that it is too tough to find healthful food at restaurants. And when they do find it, it tends to be too expensive (64 percent). Sixty-eight percent said restaurants should make it easier by indicating on menus which foods are more healthful. The problem is significant enough for 36 percent of those polled that they’d rather prepare healthful foods at home than try to find them at restaurants. "Half Of Americans Agree That Finding Healthy Items At Restaurants Is Challenging", News release, Mintel, April 11, 2016, © Mintel Group Ltd.

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European E-Commerce Companies Join China's International E-Commerce Expo For First Time April 11, 2016: 12:00 AM EST Leading e-commerce platforms from Europe are participating in the 2016 China International Electronic Commerce Expo. European e-commerce companies’ participation in the event is a first for the industry event. Bol, the largest online retailer in the Netherlands; Ricardo, the leading online shopping mall in Switzerland; and Zalando, a popular website selling shoes and fashion in Germany, are attending the event, due to huge demand for China-made products in their respective markets. "China Exclusive: European countries debut at China Int'l E-commerce Expo", Xinhua English.news.cn, April 11, 2016, © Xinhua, english.news.cn

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Click-And-Collect Trend Continues Upward Swing In US Online Retail Market April 8, 2016: 12:00 AM EST During the 2015 holiday season, almost one-third of all shoppers in the United States chose to do their purchases online, then pick up the products they bought at the retailer’s brick-and-mortar store, according to the International Council of Shopping Centers. Results of the organization’s survey revealed almost 70 percent of shoppers ended up buying more merchandise while picking up their purchase in store. In the online grocery sector, click-and-collect data are even more impressive, with the Grocery Manufacturers Association and The Boston Consulting Group reporting a 30–50 percent increase in sales across all channels compared with traditional shopping. Keith Anderson, "Click-and-collect continues to evolve, but where is it headed?", Supermarket News, April 08, 2016, © Penton

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Australian-Style Bakery Opens In Arizona April 7, 2016: 12:00 AM EST A native Australian is accomplishing a lifelong dream by opening a bakery in Scottsdale, Ariz., that features traditional “Aussie” baked goods. Prepared daily and presented in hot and cold display cases, the Great Australian Bakery sells meat pies, pasties (various ingredients encased in a puff pastry), sausage rolls and pastries. The bakery celebrated its grand opening with a 50-percent-off sale on all of its entrees, which together offer a “true taste from the land down under.” "The Great Australian Bakery is Celebrating Their Opening with Half-Off Pies, Pasties and Sausage Rolls", News release, Great Australian Bakery, April 07, 2016, © Great Australian Bakery

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Amazon Faces Legal Uncertainty After India's Announcement Of New Foreign E-Commerce Rules April 7, 2016: 12:00 AM EST Amazon and other e-commerce companies operating in India are facing the possibility of running afoul with the country's economic laws following the government's issuance of additional rules regarding foreign ownership of online retail companies. Although faced with uncertainty, which is part of doing business in the country, Amazon and its competitors are attracted to the country's online market. From $12.1 billion in 2015, the market is forecast to explode to almost $75 billion by 2020, according to Forrester. Such growth forecasts have prompted Amazon executives to predict that within a decade, the country could be the company's second-largest market following the United States. Nick Wingfield et al, "Amazon May Violate India’s New Rules on Foreign E-Commerce", The New York Times, April 07, 2016, © The New York Times Company

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The Body Shop Renews Efforts To Boost Sales; Shifts Focus To Skincare Market April 7, 2016: 12:00 AM EST L’Oreal’s retail brand The Body shop, led by its chief executive Jeremy Schwartz, is expanding efforts to expand sales growth. Established by founder Anita Roddick in 1976 as a maker and seller of natural and ethically sourced beauty and personal care products, The Body Shop was acquired by L’Oreal in 2006 for £652 million, or $932 million. As part of Schwartz’s efforts to boost sales, the company has shifted its focus on skincare, launching products, such as Drops of Youth creams and lotions. Although The Body Shop grew from 2,657 stores in 2011 to around 3,300 in 65 countries in 2015, it is finding harder to stand out in the market, with rivals, such as Lush, The Body Deli, and Skin & Tonic, making similar claims with their sustainable and natural products. Andrew Roberts, "Body Shop Heads Back to the Body Shop to Repair Battered Margins", Bloomberg , April 07, 2016, © Bloomberg L.P.

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Aldi's Campaign In Australia Opens Up Company To Copyright Headaches April 7, 2016: 12:00 AM EST Discount retailer Aldi’s “Like Brands. Only Cheaper” campaign in Australia could make the company liable for copyright infringement under the country’s copyright law, according to an investigation by AdNews. Developed by Aldi and its ad agency BMF, the campaign compares non-Aldi brands with the retailer’s own-label versions. Australia’s copyright law includes a provision that prohibits reproduction in print of a copyrighted artistic work in a comparative advertising without prior consent from the copyright owner. Nicola Riches, "Aldi's brand campaign threatened by copyright issues", Adnews, April 07, 2016, © Adnews

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Reckless Expansion And Lack Of Brand Positioning Doomed Wal-Mart's Brazil Business, Analysts Say April 7, 2016: 12:00 AM EST Wal-Mart’s failure in Brazil is caused by the retailer’s over expansion and a lack of brand positioning. After entering the local market in 1995, Wal-Mart adopted a measured approach to expanding its operations in the country. When Brazil’s economy began growing fast in the early 2000’s, Wal-Mart began its rapid expansion, including the acquisition of local supermarket chains. Relying on an over-optimistic sales forecast, Wal-Mart executives pushed for opening of an increasing number of stores, reaching a total of 544 stores, 200 pharmacies, 50 restaurants, and 10 gas stations in 18 states and the country’s capital. Ana Paula Picasso , "This is why Wal-Mart failed in Brazil", BRIC Plus, April 07, 2016, © BRIC Plus

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Sainsbury’s Ends Price-Matching Coupon Scheme In Favor Of Lower Prices April 7, 2016: 12:00 AM EST British retail grocery chain Sainsbury's is no longer giving shoppers a refund coupon when its products are more expensive than of a competitor's. The company said the money saved by ending the “Brand Match” program will be used to reinvest in key everyday products “that matter most” to customers, including chicken, bread, cheese, fresh produce and household cleaning items. The idea behind Brand Match, launched five years ago, was to mitigate the consumer perception that Sainsbury’s was too expensive. The move to drop the program follows adjustments to similar price guarantee schemes by competitors Tesco, Morrisons and Asda. "Sainsbury's Ends Brand Match In Favor Of Lower Regular Prices", Retail Analysis, April 07, 2016, © The Institute of Grocery Distribution and IGD Services Limited

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Wal-Mart's VP Of U.S. Online Marketing Brian Monahan Leaves Company April 7, 2016: 12:00 AM EST Wal-Mart’s vice president of marketing for its U.S. online business, Brian Monahan, has left the company effective April 1, 2016. Monahan returned to NewCo, the business-conference company he co-founded in 2012 San Francisco. In December 2015, Wal-Mart reorganized its senior management team by appointing former China head of marketing Tony Rogers as chief marketing officer and former Target CMO Michael Francis as a consultant. Nathan Layne, "Wal-Mart's head of U.S. online marketing leaves for startup", Reuters, April 07, 2016, © Thomson Reuters

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Whole Foods Market Seeks To Widen Target Market With 365 Store Concept April 7, 2016: 12:00 AM EST Whole Foods Market’s plan to launch its 365 by Whole Foods Market store concept is part of the retailer’s efforts to expand its customer base. With the first store scheduled to open on May 25, 2016, in the Silver Lake neighborhood of Los Angeles, the stores will feature a product assortment the company said is developed toward “greater efficiency.” Compared with a regular Whole Foods store, the 365 stores will have a smaller floor space of about 30,000 square feet. Although 365 stores will offer more affordable prices, Whole Foods aims to have the smaller stores have much in common with the regular stores, such as high-quality meat and seafood and an emphasis on offering a wide collection of produce. Sarah Halzack , "What to expect from Whole Foods' new, low-price grocery chain", The Washington Post, April 07, 2016, © The Washington Post

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Aldi Launches New Skincare And Beauty Products In Ireland April 6, 2016: 12:00 AM EST Discount retailer Aldi launched the Thermal line of spring face care products in Ireland. Also, the company released new cosmetics under its Lacura brand. Products released by the company for spring 2016 include the Hydro-Urea Foot Cream hydrating cream for feet, Thermal Body Care lotion and shower gel, and Thermal Spring Face/Eye Care moisturizer. Kendra Becker , "Aldi's new skincare and beauty range is unreal - and seriously cheap", Goss Ireland, April 06, 2016, © AS Goss Ireland Media Ltd

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Kroger Announces Appointment Of New President Of Smith's Division April 6, 2016: 12:00 AM EST Kroger Co. announced the promotion of Kenny Kimball from vice president of operations to president in the retailer’s Smith’s division effective. Effective April 30, 2016, Kimball will succeed Jay Cummins whose retirement was announced in February 2016. Kimball joined the company as a courtesy clerk in the Smith’s division in 1984. He rose through the ranks, occupying various management positions with increasing responsibility. "Kroger Names President of Smith's", Kroger , April 06, 2016, © The Kroger Company

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Sephora Stores In Middle East Start Selling Dr. Jart+ Skincare Products April 6, 2016: 12:00 AM EST Beauty retailer Sephora’s stores in five Middle Eastern countries, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Oman, will start selling skincare products from the South Korean brand Dr. Jart+, according to Lee Jin-wook, CEO of Have&Be Inc. Launched in 2005 by Lee after three years of research and development by dermatologists, including Jung Sung-jae, the skincare products immediately became popular. Company sales jumped to 86.3 billion won, or $74.5 million, in 2015. Dr. Jart+ products are now sold in 12 overseas markets, including the United States, Hong Kong, and China. Park Eun-jin, "Dr. Jart+ skincare products to hit Sephora shops in the Middle East", Pulse, April 06, 2016, © Maeil Business News Korea

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Tesco's In-House Research Unit Partners With Facebook To Study Impact Of Ads On Supermarkets' In-Store Sales April 5, 2016: 12:00 AM EST Tesco’s research firm Dunnhumby signed a partnership deal with Facebook to study how advertisements run on the social media website affect in-store sales at the supermarket. As part of the partnership, Dunnhumby’s database of around 17 million shoppers in the UK will be combined with Facebook’s roster of 37 million monthly active users in the country via Acxiom. Also, the study method will involve serving a group of Facebook users with an advertisement, compared with a group of users who will not see the ad. According to the partners, the study will help brands determine how different types of audiences respond to certain ads, how different types of creative or ad products perform, and what is the ideal frequency of showing ads to certain audiences. Jennifer Faull, "Facebook inks landmark partnership with Tesco’s Dunnhumby to show FMCG brands how ads impact in-store sales", The Drum, April 05, 2016, © Carnyx Group Ltd

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Carb-Packed Foods Are Still America’s Favorites April 6, 2016: 12:00 AM EST Though low-carb diets remain popular in the nutrition and fitness communities, they are not particularly favored among American consumers, who love their carbs. That does not bode well for anti-obesity initiatives. Using data collected from the 2014 American Community Survey and Dun and Bradstreet, the FindTheHome search engine found the most popular foods in every U.S. state. The search engine assumes that the restaurant types with the highest density per 100,000 people are the most popular. Pizza is the fan-favorite in most states, followed by baked goods and Mexican food. A typical example is Pennsylvania, population 12.8 million. Its most popular restaurant styles are pizza, bakeries, sandwich shops, and Chinese food, in that order. "The Most Popular Food in Every State", The Berkshire Eagle (Pittsfield, Mass.), April 06, 2016, © Digital First Media

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Alibaba Claims Retail Market Crown For Itself; Analysts Disagree April 6, 2016: 12:00 AM EST Alibaba Group declared itself the world’s largest retailer as of March 31, 2016, the end of its fiscal year, according to its filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. In March 2015, Alibaba group executive vice chairman Joe Tsai said the company has recorded 3 trillion yuan, or about $476 billion, in gross merchandise volume. Some retail market analysts, however, disagreed with Alibaba’s pronouncement, saying the company’s business was too different from that of Walmart and hence there cannot be a meaningful comparison. Moody’s Investors Service debt and retail analyst Charles O’Shea said Walmart’s status as a physical retailer is a different business model than that of Alibaba. Evan Clark , "‘Retail Economy’: Alibaba Claims Top Spot, Experts Take Exception", Women’s Wear Daily, April 06, 2016, © Fairchild Fashion Media

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Whole Foods Market Launches Plant-Based Haircare Products April 5, 2016: 12:00 AM EST Whole Foods Market launched a line of plant-based haircare and hairstyling products. Featuring plant-active ingredients, the products are priced less than $10 each. Products in the lineup include Moisturizing Shampoo or Conditioner, Volumizing Shampoo or Conditioner, and Color Preserve Shampoo or Conditioner. "Whole Foods Market launches line of hair care products", Whole Foods Market, April 05, 2016, © Whole Foods Market

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