Highlights: July 2005 
 
Grocers 
Clothing 
Multi-sector 
DIY 
Department stores 
News Analysis 
 
Convenience retailing 
Japan: FamilyMart to open in US 
Grocers 
Australia: Coles Myer launches own brands 
France: Auchan 
…heads to Russia 
…and opens first non-food discount fascia 
France: Carrefour 
…boosts discount standing in France 
…while expansion boosts share 
…but sales disappoint 
France: G&G sees sales increase 
Netherlands: Ahold 
…sells US convenience stores 
….and Deli XL sale completes disposal programme 
Netherlands: Laurus formats continue to suffer 
Spain: Carrefour Spain 
…announces expansion plans 
…and launches telecoms service 
UK: Asda 
…offers cut-price electricals 
…and launches George cosmetics range 
…before wielding the axe… 
…and recruiting shop floor staff in refocusing drive 
UK: Sainsbury’s 
…opens door to Asda staff 
…and posts growth 
…as its turnaround gathers pace 
UK: Somerfield 
…left with two suitors as Co-op quits 
…but Baugur boss charged with fraud 
…and Baugur too drops out 
…and offloads its stake 
…leaving Somerfield flat 
UK: Tesco 
…posts impressive results 
…and moves into contact lenses 
US: Winn-Dixie 
…loses-Dixie 
…and sells 102 stores 
Clothing retailing 
Japan: Growth strategy slows Fast’s progress 
Japan: Muji in overseas expansion 
Spain: Zara hits Home in Italy 
Spain: Cortefiel 
…makes strong start 
…as more enter bidding fight 
…only to be snubbed 
Sweden: H&M 
…still in vogue 
…and setting the pace 
UK: Burberry makes sprightly start 
UK: Sales dive at French Connection 
UK: Hugo Boss plans London flagship 
UK: Jacques Vert turns loss into profit 
UK: Sole bidder for Jane Norman announced 
UK: Matalan continues to slide 
UK: Mulberry posts impressive results 
UK: Peacock 
…lauds fashion focus 
…and rearranges kidswear 
UK: River Island lifts retail gloom 
Footwear retailing 
UK: Kurt Geiger in equity buy-out 
Multi-sector retailing 
France: Ecobichon in at Conforama 
Japan: Daiei continues bad run into Q1 
Japan: Seven-Eleven boosts Ito-Yokado 
Japan: Aeon sees quarterly revenue rise 
Germany: KarstadtQuelle 
…reiterates Q3 disposal target 
…slashes earnings forecast 
…and overhauls mail order arm 
Germany: Real chairman steps down 
Germany: Metro to enter Pakistan 
Germany: Positive start for Rewe 
Japan: Seiyu chief says sayonara 
Switzerland: Flagship turnover boosts Jelmoli 
UK: GUS boosted by new stores 
UK: Boots 
…boosted by healthcare 
…as it looks to concessions 
UK: HMV sales push forward 
UK: John Lewis in Oxford Street revamp 
UK: Laura Ashley closes flagship store 
UK: Littlewoods sold to ABF 
UK: M&S slide continues 
US: Wal-Mart to expand in Europe 
Mass merchandisers 
US: Target launches digital music service 
Mixed goods 
US: Family Dollar announces Q3 
Department stores 
France: Lafayette poised to sell online supermarket brand 
Sweden: Axfood and Ahlen sell off property assets 
UK: Beales results remain static 
UK: House of Fraser 
…in talks to buy James Beattie 
…and agrees on acquisition 
…but Debenhams considers late bid 
DIY retailing 
Germany: Hornbach enjoys “historic” year 
Japan: DIY chains agree merger 
UK: Sales fall at Wickes 
Electrical retailing 
UK: Kesa reports H1 hike 
UK: Dixons reports disappointing H2 
Carpet retailing 
UK: Carpetright in defiant mood 
Furniture retailing 
France: Ecobichon in at Conforama 
Sweden: Ikea 
…looks to enter grocery market 
…and Russia 
…while new German head appointed 
UK: Land of Leather poised for flotation 
UK: MFI begins ascent from the depths? 
Home shopping 
UK: Sales rocket at high-flying Asos 
UK: Kleeneze rebrands and builds healthy platform 
US: Avon hit by China slide 
Music and video goods retailing 
France: Fnac sees turnover rise 
Health and beauty retailing 
Netherlands: AS Watson buys Portegies 
UK: Savers gets new MD 
UK: Superdrug moves into jewellery 
UK: Molton Brown sold to Kao 
UK: Body Shop continues to tone financials 
US: Walgreen 
…prescribes confident Q3 
…but workers poised for strikes 
Book and stationery retailing 
UK: Harmful environment hits Clinton Cards 
UK: Ottakar’s writes subdued first chapter 
Sports and leisure goods retailing 
UK: Blacks falters as sales dip 
UK: JJB chairman steps down as sales slide 
UK: John David Group sees half time sales slip 
Garden centres 
UK: Dobbies sows seeds for year 
UK: Wyevale upbeat as chief steps down 
Opticians 
Denmark: Specsavers acquires Danish chain 
Toys and games retailing 
UK: Game hit by tough environment 
US: Toys R Us CEO and COO to leave 
Miscellaneous specialist retailing 
UK: Halfords still riding high 
US: PETsMART board approves share buy back scheme 
Economic News 
 
Australia: Retail outperforms in May 
Czech Republic: Retail sales moving upward 
Germany: Retail sales fight back in May 
Hong Kong: Retail sales grow swiftly in May 
Ireland: Retail sales push steadily up 
Spain: Retail environment edges forward 
UK: Retail sales rebound, reveals ONS 
UK: Retail outlook brighter in June, says BRC 
UK: June sees sharp sales decline, says CBI 
US: Retail sales unexpectedly surge 
Company Focus: Benetton in the Clothing Market 
Market context
Figure 1: European clothing market: Estimated market sizes and spend per capita, 2004 
Distribution is wide on a Europe wide level
Figure 2: European clothing market: Channels of distribution by country, 2003/04 
Figure 3: European clothing sector: Clothing specialists’ sales by country, 2004 
Hard times ahead for clothing
Figure 4: European clothing sector: Clothing specialists’ sales forecasts by country, 2004-09 
Competition to intensify 
New EU states offer scope for retailers 
As do the undeveloped markets
Figure 5: European clothing sector: Forecast sector sales growth, by country, 2004-09 
Company Profile: Benetton 
 
What is it? The bare facts 
Financial data
Figure 6: Benetton: Share of European clothing specialists’ sales, 2000-04 
Figure 7: Benetton: Financial data, 2000-04 
Figure 8: Benetton: Group sales by geographical area, 2000-04
Figure 9: Benetton: Group sales by commercial activity, 2002-04 
Outlets
Figure 10: Benetton: Global outlet data, 2000-04 
Figure 11: Benetton: European store coverage, 2004
Figure 12: Benetton: European outlet data by major European countries, May 2005 
Products 
Menswear 
Womenswear 
Sisley