Planet Retail

INSIGHT: Harris Teeter ponders a purchase

Harris Teeter will have a major input in the future of East Coast supermarket retailing. The North Carolina-based operator retained JP Morgan Securities to assist in holding acquisition discussions. A decision to sell - or not to sell - will have varying impacts on the competitive landscape. Planet Retail looks at how any potential sell-off of this supermarket operator might affect the retail landscape in its region.

Written by Rich Mitchell.

Click HERE to read the full article.

INSIGHT: Kroger: ‘what if’ scenarios portend share gains

Another successful year places Kroger on a solid footing for future growth, despite growing competition from non-supermarket retailers. Planet Retail is optimistic about Kroger’s growth prospects and its ability to gain market share in the coming year amid the continued lackluster economy and some shifts in the supermarket landscape.

Written by Sandy Skrovan.

Click HERE to read the full article.

PRESS RELEASE: Planet Retail’s take on Kroger Q4 and FY results

On Kroger’s Q4 and FY results, Sandy Skrovan, US Research Director at Planet Retail, commented:

“Kroger continues to outperform its peers in the supermarket sector. It finished the year with another solid sales gain and extended its string of identical store sales growth for the 37th consecutive quarter. What’s perhaps most impressive, however, is Kroger’s growth in net earnings on a quarter-by-quarter basis. All-in-all, 2012 was another successful year, placing Kroger on solid footing for future growth.”

Planet Retail is optimistic about Kroger’s growth prospects and its ability to gain market share amid the continued lackluster economy. Skrovan adds:, “Some acquisitions could be on the cards, especially given pending shifts in the competitive landscape. There certainly are openings – Supervalu’s sell-off, Delhaize Group’s Sweetbay closures, Harris Teeter exploring alternatives – some which could play into Kroger’s hands as fill-in or new market opportunities.”

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Sandy is available for further comment and can be contacted on +001 614 592 2376 or via e-mail at sandra.skrovan@4C.planetretail.net

PRESS:

Robyn Ashman, Marketing Executive
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7715 6021; E-mail: marketing@4C.planetretail.net.

INSIGHT: Battle of the Grands Magasins – Galeries Lafayette vs. Borletti Group

The owners of French department store chain Printemps, Italy’s Borletti Group, have entered into exclusive talks with Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund, Qatari Holdings (owner of Harrods in the UK) to discuss the future shareholding of the retailer. However, last week the tussle for Printemps, known as ‘la grande dame’ of Boulevard Haussmann, took a new turn. Planet Retail looks at the possible outcomes arising from this compelling conflict.

Written by Isabel Cavill (@IsabelCavill).

Click HERE to read the full story.

INSIGHT: Can an office romance lead to a happy ending?

Two of the biggest names in office supplies retailing, Office Depot and OfficeMax, have agreed to merge their businesses in a stock swap. Office Depot will issue 2.69 new shares for each outstanding OfficeMax common share in order to see the transaction completed. The deal between the second and third-largest players globally will see a new business formed. However, the venture will still be ranked second in revenue generation behind the world’s biggest office player, Staples. Planet Retail looks at this potentially game changing merger and examines what it might mean for all parties involved.

Written by Louise Howarth (@lou_m_h)

Click HERE to read the full article.

INSIGHT: Dissecting Supervalu’s super grocery shake-up

The sale of five Supervalu banners to an investment group led by Cerberus Capital Management, owners of Albertsons Market, will change the face of US grocery retailing and shake up the supermarket leader board. When the deal is completed in March, it will make Supervalu a more nimble operator and enhance the Cerberus grocery platform, making it the fifth-largest US supermarket operator. Planet Retail examines the potential impact on the US retail landscape.

Written by Rich Mitchell.

Click HERE to read the full article.

INSIGHT: What might Ahold’s sale of ICA mean for both retailers and markets?

Dutch retailer Ahold has announced it has reached an agreement with Hakon Invest of Sweden regarding the sale of Ahold’s 60% holding in Swedish retailer ICA. The price is SEK21.2 billion (USD3.2 billion) in cash, which includes ICA’s 2012 dividend of SEK1.2 billion (USD0.18 billion). The deal is expected to be completed by the middle of this year. With ICA’s powerful partner stepping back to focus on its own strategy, Planet Retail considers the implications of this move for both companies and their respective markets.

Written by Laimonas Gineika.

Click HERE to read the full article.

INSIGHT: Rainy days endure for Mercator

For the financial year 2012, Slovenia-based grocery retailer Mercator has witnessed a sales decline in its two largest markets - namely its Slovenian homeland and Croatia, which together contribute 75% of its total revenues. Sales in Slovenia dropped by 2.6%, while revenue from its Croatian operations plummeted by an estimated 7.7% year-on-year. Planet Retail asks where one of the biggest players in the Balkans went wrong and what strategy might best suit its aims in the year ahead.

Written by Milos Ryba (@EuroAsiaRetail).

Click HERE to read the full article.

INSIGHT: Auchan acquires Metro Group’s Real in CEE

Metro Group has signed an agreement with the French retailer Groupe Auchan about the divestment of Real’s business in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). Groupe Auchan will take over the operational activities and real estate assets of the Metro Group subsidiary in Poland, Romania, Russia and Ukraine for EUR1.1 billion (USD1.4 billion). Planet Retail examines the implications of the deal for both Auchan and Metro Group and looks at how this changes the state of play in this increasingly-important market.

Written by Milos Ryba (@EuroAsiaRetail) and Bianca Casertano.

Click HERE to read the full article.

PRESS RELEASE: Planet Retail’s take on Kroger Q3 results

On Kroger, Sandy Skrovan, US Research Director, commented:

“Kroger’s reputation as a consistently solid performer remains unscathed. The retailer continues to string together quarter after quarter of identical store sales gains – with Q3 its 36th consecutive quarter – which is an extraordinary feat during the shaky economy. It is certainly testament to the sound execution of Kroger’s Customer 1st strategy.”

Planet Retail expects the same going forward, and even more, as Kroger gets more aggressive about future store expansion. Skrovan adds: “Watch as the company fills in existing markets and enters a handful of new markets in the next two to three years. Kroger has a strong portfolio of formats on which to draw based on market demographics and shopper needs. We expect Marketplace will serve as a key growth format as it enters new markets. Kroger also remains open to non-traditional means of growing sales and market share, including its pending merger with specialty pharmacy Axium, which could open up new doors in providing greater health & wellness services to its customer base. It’s these types of moves that will keep Kroger in the #2 slot among US retailers in the coming years.”

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Sandy is available for further comment and can be contacted on +011 614 592 2376 or via e-mail at sandra.skrovan@4C.planetretail.net

PRESS:

Robyn Ashman, Marketing Executive
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7715 6021; E-mail: robyn.ashman@4c.planetretail.net.

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