European Retail Briefing is a monthly briefing providing news and analysis that includes company results, store openings, cross-border moves, M & A activities, executive changes and property developments. Additionally each month, European Retail Briefing focuses on a key issue or specific European retail sector. The month's retail news is then analysed sector by sector, making this an invaluable resource for all with an interest in the European retail industry.

ANALYST’S COMMENT

FOOD FIGHT IN FRANCE

The big boys

And the rest

Is price enough?

HEADLINES OF THE MONTH

Food retailers

Non-food

RETAIL SALES REVIEW

FRANCE

Figure 1: France: Retail sales trends, 2008

Inflation

Figure 2: France: Inflation, 2008-09

GERMANY

Figure 3: Germany: Retail sales trends, Jan 2008-Jan 2009

Inflation

Figure 4: Germany: Inflation, 2008-09

ITALY

Figure 5: Italy: Retail sales trends, 2008

Inflation

Figure 6: Italy: Inflation, 2008-09

NETHERLANDS

Figure 7: The Netherlands: Retail sales trends, Nov 2007-Dec 2008

Inflation

Figure 8: The Netherlands: Inflation, 2008-09

SPAIN

Figure 9: Spain: Retail sales trends, Dec 2007-Dec 2008

Inflation

Figure 10: Spain: Inflation, 2008-09

UK

Figure 11: Retail sales trends, 2008-09

Inflation

Figure 12: UK: Annual percentage change in Retail Price Index for selected product groups, Dec 2007-Jan 2009

SECTOR FOCUS - EUROPEAN HOME SHOPPING

OTTO GROUP

Figure 13: Otto Group: Retail sales as share of non-store retailers in Europe, 2003-07

Figure 14: Otto UK: Retail sales as share of UK non-store retailers, 2003-07

Strategic evaluation

Consolidation of business activities

Internationalisation

Building a stronger multi-channel platform

Innovation

History

Financial performance

Retailing focus

But declining retail sales record

Online offsets some of the decline…

… and international outperforms too

Figure 15: Otto multi-channel retail division: Financial performance, 2003/04-2007/08

Store portfolio

Catalogues

Figure 16: Otto Europe: Multi-channel retail operations, 2008

e-commerce

THE MONTH IN RETAILING

CO-OPS (RETAIL)

Italy: Co-op Italia signs clothing deal

Switzerland: Co-op Schweiz reports FY results

UK: Co-op stores sold to Sainsbury’s

GROCERS

Belgium: Delhaize ends Unilever boycott

Denmark: Dansk Supermarked sees FY sales rise 3%

France: Carrefour

… enters Morocco

… signs Abu Dhabi deal

… eyes 75% stake in Seventh Continent

… launches in Bulgaria

France: Casino announces rise in EBIT and €1bn asset sale

Germany: Rewe reports 11% FY sales increase

Netherlands: Ahold

… Q4 profits soar 49%

… FY net income plummets

Netherlands: Super de Boer triples FY profits

Portugal: Jeronimo Martins sees FY profit rise 24%

Russian Federation: Billa sees FY sales climb 40%

Slovenia: Mercator reports 8% FY profit drop

Spain: Condis sees sales rise in 2008

Spain: Mercadona posts 5% profit drop in 2008

Sweden: ICA sees FY sales increase

Sweden: Axfood sales steady in February

UK: Asda

… appoints new COO

… posts impressive FY results

… removes underperforming brands from stores

… reports February sales boost

UK: Morrisons wades into supermarket price war

UK: Tesco

… and Asda ramp up pressure in price war

… launches new format

… wins appeal over ruling to curb expansion

UK: Waitrose wades into supermarket price war

OFF-LICENCES

UK: Majestic Wine acquires Lay & Wheeler

CLOTHING RETAILING

Denmark: IC Companys posts 1% sales increase

Italy: Benetton's FY profit up 7%

Sweden: H&M

… boasts 9% sales increase in January

… appoints new chief

Sweden: RNB sales slide in February

UK: Adams saved by former owner

UK: Arcadia to merge with Bhs

UK: Bhs outlines development plans

UK: Mosaic

… poised for pre-pack administration

… fashion chain Principles is shutting its gates

… in brands deal with Aurora Fashions

… Aurora seeks rent reduction

UK: Mulberry reveals stronger-than-expected Holiday sales

UK: Primark reports LFLs increase

FOOTWEAR RETAILING

UK: Dune poised to acquire Shoe Studio

UK: Stylo to slip into administration

… chairman plans to buy back stores

MULTI-SECTOR RETAILING

France: PPR

… appoints new Redcats boss

… FY profits slump 20%

Germany: Arcandor

… drops FY outlook due to lacking visibility

… reveals €58m net loss in Q1

Germany: Metro sells Adler fashion stores

UK: M&S

… chairman reiterates Chinese expansion despite errors

… puts pressure on suppliers

DEPARTMENT STORES

Finland: Stockmann reports 18% Q4 profit drop

UK: House of Fraser mulls Beatties disposal

UK: John Lewis pledges to create 1,000 jobs in 2009

DIY RETAILING

Austria: BauMax weathers economic gloom

Europe: Kingfisher reports strong Q4 results

France: Mr Bricolage posts profit boost

Germany: Praktiker sees FY profit fall

UK: Travis Perkins sees FY profits plunge

ELECTRICAL RETAILING

Germany: Media-Saturn executives leave

UK: Carphone Warehouse to slash 400 jobs

UK: Best Buy delays UK launch until 2010

UK: DSGi announces new store plan

MUSIC AND VIDEO GOODS RETAILING

UK: Zavvi

… to live on online

… to become Head following purchase

FURNITURE RETAILING

Sweden: Nobia reports sales, profit drop

UK: Habitat reveals £13m FY loss

HOMEWARES RETAILING

UK: Dunelm reports flat half-year profits

HOME SHOPPING

Germany: Neckermann poaches new chief executive from Quelle

UK: Asos launches kidswear business

UK: Shop Direct flourishes on rivals' demise

HEALTH AND BEAUTY RETAILING

Switzerland: Galenica to take over Sun Store pharmacy chain

UK: Body Shop FY profits dive

BOOK AND STATIONERY RETAILING

UK: WH Smith signs deal with BAA

SPORTS AND LEISURE GOODS RETAILING

UK: Blacks Leisure receives approaches

UK: JJB

… confirms health club offers

… looks to place lifestyle division in administration

UK: Sports Direct posts 12% sales boost

TOYS AND GAMES RETAILING

Greece: Jumbo posts 15% surge in H1 profits