Japan news

German retailer Metro confirms the sale of its Vietnamese operations to Thai company Berli Jucker for €655 million. Metro to focus on strategic markets Metro entered the Vietnamese market in 2002, building up operations which now comprise of 19 cash and carry stores, generating sales of €516 million in fiscal 2013. The deal is expected to come to fruition in the first half of next year....

Amazon reported that sales for the second quarter ended 30 June increased 23% to $5.33 bn. Sales were up by 22% at constant exchange rates. The company recorded an operating loss of $15m and a net loss of $126m as it continued to invest in growth initiatives such as its Fire smartphone, which launched this week. Making the customer experience “better and better” Amazon’s CEO Jeff Bezos said...

As AEON invests for growth in Japan and overseas, first quarter results reveal 17.2% revenue growth to JPY 1.7tn, and a sharp decline in operating income, falling -35.3% to JPY 22.4bn. The Group outlines its ongoing priorities as it targets a seven trillion yen turnover for full year 2014. High investments and flat same store sales underlining results GMS, AEON's largest business division, ...

Carrefour to exit India, Chinese online retailer Yihaodian partners with Family Mart, Lawson and Seven & I report Q1 progress and retailers in India expanding into the online channel. Just a typical week in Asia's blooming grocery sector.  In this article we wrap up the rest of the weeks important developments. Japan - Seven Eleven expanding into railway stations Seven Eleven has announced ...

The Japanese convenience store operator has released sales for the first quarter of its FY with domestic convenience sales up just 1.1% to JPY482bn, but net profit rising 26.5% to JPY9.1bn. Focused on improving domestic operations Lawson continues to grow sales in Japan through enhancements to its in-store offer, the optimisation of its store network and operating locally. Highlights include: ...

Seven & I Holdings has reported a 7.9% increase in revenue and a 5.1% increase in operating income for the three months ended 31 May 2014, the first quarter of its FY2015 fiscal year. Convenience driving increases in operating income Operating income increases were mainly driven by increased profits in convenience operations. Same store sales improvements were a key factor in the growth a...

Leading Japanese retailer AEON is ramping up its investment in overseas expansion, whilst building scale in the discount format in its domestic market. Discount's growing appeal to Japanese shoppers AEON plans to triple the number of A Colle discount format stores in Tokyo by 2016. At present it operates around 90 stores under this banner: store numbers are set to be boosted to around 250...

The global convenience giant is pursuing new regional expansion in Japan, remodelling in the US and rolling out its green store concept in Thailand. "Your Neighbourhood Store" concept introduced in Hawaii 7-Eleven's 61 stores in Hawaii are scheduled to be remodelled over the next five years at the cost of US$30m. Changes will include new flooring, counter tops, fixtures and lighting, which ...

Speaking at Walmart’s Annual General Meeting, the retailer’s President & CEO, Doug McMillon, outlined his vision for the company, focusing on being customer driven, investing in people and being at the forefront of innovation and technology. Picking up the pace of change to better focus on shoppers In what was his first AGM as CEO, McMillon delivered an upbeat and visionary message for Wal...

IGD has been at Walmart’s Shareholders’ events in Bentonville this week, meeting with the senior leadership and visiting the retailers’ latest store concepts. This provided us with a great opportunity to see how Walmart is evolving its offer in response to key retail trends. Re-inventing the hypermarket with new technologies Technology products have been at the heart of Walmart’s aim to r...