European Retail Briefings - September 2005

HIGHLIGHTS: AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2005
Grocers
Clothing
Multi-sector
DIY
NEWS ANALYSIS
 BAKERS (RETAIL)
UK: Thorntons admits MBO rumours
 CONVENIENCE STORES
UK: Tesco makes play for 30 BP sites
 GROCERS
Australia: Woolworths sees profits rise
France: Carrefour sales up, down in France
France: Casino sees sales slip in H1
Germany: Kimberly-Clark to sell in Lidl?
Germany: Wal-Mart appoints new boss
Netherlands: Ahold remains solid in Q2
Netherlands: Laurus
…hit by price war
…but drops prices further at Super De Boer
Russia: Profits jump at Pyaterochka
Spain: Strong year for El Corte Inglés
Sweden: Axfood names new boss
UK: Tesco
…creating jobs and looking to US
…as it mulls furniture move
…drops Norwich Union for Direct Line
…and is called into question by Wal-Mart
UK: Asda
…begins rebrand of NI Safeway stores
…hits back at Tesco
…and weighs in with more price cuts
…as the two respond to petrol concerns
…moves ahead with In-store TV
…and online photo shop
…and notches up success with DIY
UK: Sainsbury’s
…to increase media range
…and launches “Try something new” campaign
UK: Somerfield
…posts slight dip
…issues bid deadline
…and sells 12 stores
UK: Whittard
…blames downturn on terrorists
…and confirms mixed year
…as takeover approaches fail
UK: Wm Morrison
…threatened with strikes
…as internal document angers staff
US: Albertsons
…could be for sale
…as sales improve
 OFF-LICENCES
UK: Unwins to expand wine retail concept
 CLOTHING RETAILING
Germany: Hugo Boss to hit Portugal
Spain: Private equity firms take hold of Cortefiel
Sweden: Stella comes to H&M
UK: Elle hit by retail downturn
UK: Retailers vie for Littlewoods sites
UK: Benetton overhauls ad strategy
UK: French Connection
…sees profits plummet
…but Baugur investment lifts shares
UK: Matalan
…makes job cuts
…but difficulties continue
UK: Peacocks
…confirms approach
…with hedge fund to make retail history
UK: Primark expansion boosted
US: Abercrombie & Fitch boss leaves
US: New Gap fasica targets baby boomers
 FOOTWEAR RETAILING
UK: Bidding process continues at S&S
 MASS MERCHANDISERS
Germany: Wal-Mart appoints new German boss
UK: Booker adds fresh produce to ranges
 MULTI-SECTOR RETAILING
France: PPR reports improvement across the board
France: Profits slump at Rallye
Germany: KarstadtQuelle plans changes
Germany: Rewe
…shuffles management pack
…and pulls out of Swiss market
Japan: Ito-Yokado to close more stores
UK: Post Office expands merchandise range
UK: Boots
…launches “Operation Snowstorm”
…and moves closer to healthcare sale
UK: HMV
…enters Ottakar’s talks
…but management team ups takeover stakes
…prompting fresh HMV bid
UK: Kays to close Worcester warehouse
UK: Marks & Spencer
…fined over false Italian claim
…but signs Twiggy for TV push
UK: Next battles on
US: SuperValu issues profits warning
 DEPARTMENT STORES
UK: Debenhams to expand Desire
UK: Fenwick reveals annual gains
UK: Harvey Nichols plans global expansion
US: Federated acquires May
 MIXED GOODS RETAILING
US: Gas prices fuel Dollar Tree decline
 DIY RETAILING
UK: Kingfisher
…B&Q to cut hundreds of jobs
…and considers store closures
…as group stung by UK slowdown
 ELECTRICAL RETAILING
UK: Second half hangover continues at Dixons
US: Tailored stores boost Best Buy
 CARPET RETAILING
UK: Floors 2 Go continues first year slide
 FURNITURE RETAILING
Sweden: Ikea plans expanded Beijing store
UK: MFI hit by UK business
 HOME SHOPPING
UK: Otto UK’s chief executive resigns
UK: All change at Ideal, while results remain constant
 BOOK AND STATIONERY RETAILING
UK: Gerry gets MD role at Waterstone’s
 SPORTS AND LEISURE GOODS RETAILING
UK: Sports Soccer to buy Allsports?
UK: JJB to leave Oxford Street
 JEWELLERS
UK: Signet sees US results sparkle
 TOYS AND GAMES RETAILING
China: Disney to triple Chinese outlets
US: Toys R Us feels merger pinch
 MISCELLANEOUS SPECIALIST RETAILING
US: PETsMART reports decent Q2
 GARDEN CENTRES
Wyevale
…left offerless
…but board defeats Laxey bid
ECONOMIC NEWS
Australia: Retail sales flat, says ABS
Canada: Retail sales up
China: Tax cuts boost retail sales
Czech Republic: Sales falter in July
Germany: Retail sales slump in July
Greece: High street sales push forward
Italy: Retail sales fall back again
Poland: Vibrant trading environment continues
UK: Retailers fearing the worse says CBI
UK: No relief for retail in August, says BRC
UK: ONS sees sales creep up in August
MARKET ANALYSIS: SPORTS GOODS RETAILING IN EUROPE
Figure 1: European sports goods market: Market data by country, 2004
Figure 2: European sports goods market: Share of sales by product category, 2004
 INTERSPORT LEADS, SPORTS 2000 AND DÉCATHLON CLOSE BEHIND
Figure 3: Leading European sports specialists: Ranked by sales, 2004
 SWIMWEAR SWEEPS THE BOARD ACROSS EUROPE
Figure 4: Sports goods purchased in the past 12 months in GB, France, Germany and Spain, March 2004
 EUROPEAN SPORTS SECTOR TO SEE GROWTH SLOWDOWN
Figure 5: European mixed goods retailing: Sector sales and forecasts by country, 2004 and 2009
COMPANY PROFILE: DÉCATHLON
 WHAT IS IT? THE BARE FACTS
 MATURE IN FRANCE, BUT HAS INTERNATIONAL SUCCESS
Figure 6: Décathlon: Financial performance, 2000-04
French business hits plateau?
Figure 7: Décathlon: Sales as % of French sports retailers’ sales, 2000-04
International presence
Figure 8: Décathlon: International expansion record, 1986-2005
Figure 9: Décathlon: International store numbers, 2001-04
Figure 10: Décathlon: Sales as % of Spanish sports retailers’ sales, 2000-04
 PRODUCT RANGE DOMINATED BY OWN-LABEL
Figure 11: Décathlon: Own label portfolio
Marketing to build brand awareness