North American News
Fresh & Easy Expands 'Farm to Store in 24' Program
Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market here has announced an expansion of its "Farm to Store in 24" program, in which the retailer works with local California growers to bring fruits and vegetables from their farms to Fresh & Easy retail locations in less than 24 hours.
Safeway Inc. Announces Second Quarter 2010 Results
Safeway Inc. today reported net income of $141.3 million for the second quarter of 2010 compared to $238.6 million for the second quarter of 2009. The second quarter of 2009 included a $57.8 million tax benefit from the resolution of a tax matter.
Bottom Dollar Food set to open grocery stores in Philadelphia area
Bottom Dollar Food, a discount grocer based in Salisbury, N.C., announced plans Wednesday to open at least 17 stores in Philadelphia and the surrounding Pennsylvania and New Jersey suburbs, starting this fall. An additional four are planned in Allentown and Reading. The expansion will create 600 jobs locally, the company said.
South American News
Exito Profit Surges In Q2
Almacenes Exito, Colombia's largest retailer, has reported a sharp jump in second-quarter profit, helped by growing consumer confidence in the economy. The chain, controlled by Groupe Casino, saw net profit jump 33% to 34bn pesos (US$18m), while operating profit rose by 5.4% to 1.7bn pesos.
European News
Guyenne et Gascogne Has Solid H1
Grocery retailer Guyenne et Gascogne has seen its first-half sales rise by 5.1% to E278m, helped by strong fuel sales (turnover was up 1.4% excluding fuel). The group said that its supermarkets and mid-size hypermarkets in France showed strong growth, although its larger outlets continue to struggle, hurt by the low demand for non-food. Sales were up 9.1% at its supermarkets, while the hypermarkets grew by just 1.4%.
M.video, Eldorado Continue Steady Growth
Consumer electronics chains M.video and Eldorado have reported solid growth in the first half of this year, helped by expansion and slowly growing consumer confidence.
Lenta To Expand, Appoints New Commercial Director
Hypermarket chain Lenta has revealed plans to rapidly expand its store network, even as it announced the appointment of a new Commercial Director. Group Chairman Dmitry Kostygin said the chain wants to open 34 new outlets by 2014, with at least 10 of them opening in 2011. Kostygin added that the outlets will mostly be located in southern and south-western Russia and Siberia.
U.K. and Ireland News
Kingfisher Sales Decline as Britons Reduce Spending on Bathrooms, Kitchens
Kingfisher Plc, Europe's largest home-improvement retailer, said second-quarter sales declined as the U.K. B&Q chain offered fewer promotions and Britons cut spending on large items such as bathrooms and kitchens. Revenue at stores open at least a year fell 0.8 percent, excluding currency swings, in the 10 weeks ended July 10, the London-based company said in a statement.
Information submitted to Gatekeeper Systems is kept strictly confidential and is not sold to any other entity. You can unsubscribe from MarketWatch at any time by clicking the "unsubscribe" link.
