Author: Mintel Group Ltd.
Last saved by: HTTP server

European Retail Briefings - May 2005

HIGHLIGHTS: APRIL/MAY 2005
Grocers
Clothing
Multi-sector
DIY
Music and video goods retailing
NEWS ANALYSIS
 BAKERS (RETAIL)
UK: Greggs cooks up decent return
 CO-OPS (RETAIL)
UK: Co-op
…profits halve
…while United moves for Somerfield
 CONVENIENCE STORES
Ireland: Expansion strategy boosts Musgrave
UK: Sainsbury’s
…acquires SL Shaw
…and backs up existing chains
UK: Somerfield case may change C-store environment
 GROCERS
Belgium: Delhaize
…restates full-year earnings
…but dollar dents Q1
China: Metro ups Chinese cash & carry stake
China: Earnings soar at Wu-Mart
France: Auchan profits tumble, hope remains
France: Casino edges forward
Netherlands: Ahold
…sales hit by currency effects
…and divests US stores
Netherlands: Laurus
…hit by price war
…but trials Lekker & Laag superstore
UK: Asda
…ponders Somerfield bid
…and ups its mobile offering
UK: Sainsbury’s gets fresh…
…with new campaign
…as Oliver boosts organic sales
…and revival plan finally kicks in
UK: No let up for Morrisons
UK: Sales dip at growing Somerfield
UK: Tesco
…rejects traffic light system
…and looks to buy Cherokee
US: Winn-Dixie decline continues
 CLOTHING RETAILING
France: IKKS steps up Italian presence
Germany: Hugo thrives on success of womenswear
Italy: Price-cutting boosts Benetton
Spain: Cortefiel
…booms on Asian sourcing
…as CVC approaches
Spain: New chief for Inditex
Sweden: H&M
…teams up with Stella McCartney
…as results bounce back
International: Sunnucks eyes UK for Gap expansion
UK: Ciro Citterio in liquidation
UK: Monsoon buys Etam stores
UK: Fat Face sold to Advent
UK: FCUK recovery on ice
UK: Moss Bros looks to home shopping channels
UK: Onward and upward for Joseph
UK: Mosaic to float on Icex
UK: Matalan
…recent dip takes shine off results
…but finally offloads Lee Cooper
…and considers comeback via electricals
UK: Mothercare stays on target
UK: New Look outlines refinancing plans
UK: Sales rocket at Hobbs
UK: Primark turns in strong performance
US: Claire's continues to grow
US: Gap
…defiant as profits slide
… but pledges to open more stores worldwide
 FOOTWEAR RETAILING
UK: Stylo returns in style
UK: Brown & Jackson back in the black
 MULTI-SECTOR RETAILING
France: PPR reports slow retail growth
Germany: Douglas perfume sales edge ahead
Germany: Edeka buys Spar and Netto
Germany: Karstadt
…rebuffed by Bernard
…but swiftly appoints Middelhoff
Germany: Metro “satisfied” with Q1
Italy: Radice and Rossetto in at Rinascente
Japan: Daiei books net loss
UK: GUS acquires LowerMyBills.com
UK: Boots’ profits lose grip
UK: HMV held back by Waterstones
UK: Waitrose grows, John Lewis dips
UK: Littlewoods
…End of the road for Index
…as Apax and New Look eye whole chain
UK: M&S
…plans womenswear push
…and teams up with Amazon
…as Burns hired to replace Myners
UK: Next figures slide
US: JC Penney reports impressive Q1
US: Kmart and Sears launch combined format
US: SuperValu delivers solid results
US: Target outperforms in Q1
US: Wal-Mart
…endures some tough times
…and launches hybrid download service
 DEPARTMENT STORES
France: Paribas and Moullin family clear AMF hurdle
France: Meyer leaves Galeries Lafayette
UK: Tillman saves Allders flagship
UK: Liberty agrees Regent Street sale
 DIY RETAILING
Germany: Hornbach plans store roll-out
UK: Kingfisher
…makes Chinese acquisition
…as Permira hovers
US: Home Depot furnishes solid Q1
 ELECTRICAL RETAILING
France: PC City targets French market
UK: MFI closes Hygena concessions
UK: Consumer slowdown hurts Dixons
US: Best Buy plans China and US expansion
 MUSIC AND VIDEO GOODS RETAILING
UK: Supermarkets stunt Virgin profits
 CARPET RETAILING
UK: Carpetright sees sales slip
UK: Cracks appear at Floors 2 Go
 FURNITURE RETAILING
UK: Homestyle in refinancing deal
UK: ScS posts impressive H1
 HOME SHOPPING
Germany: Neckermann
…Karstadt to sell Neckermann HQ
…as catalogue is overhauled
Sweden: Clas Ohlson predicts sales lift
UK: Kleeneze hampered by Farepak
UK: Findel heralds strong year
UK: Door-to-door weighs down N Brown
US: Amazon Q1 hit by shipping costs
US: QVC chief steps down
 HEALTH AND BEAUTY RETAILING
France: Marionnaud
…Sales slip
…but new owner is on the case
UK: Body Shop returns impressive results
 BOOK AND STATIONERY RETAILING
UK: Birthdays boosts Clinton Cards
UK: Recent form boosts Ottakar’s
UK: WH Smith returns to profits
US: Office Depot feels the international pinch
 SPORTS AND LEISURE GOODS RETAILING
UK: Blacks sports decent growth
UK: JJB fights on over price fixing fines
UK: JD receives approach as profits jump
 JEWELLERS
Germany: Bijou Brigitte Q1
UK: US offsets UK slump for Signet
 GARDEN CENTRES
UK: Blooms grows into profit
UK: Spring comes early at Wyevale
 TOYS AND GAMES RETAILING
UK: Game posts profit but bid talks end
 MISCELLANEOUS SPECIALIST RETAILING
Germany: Beate Uhse profits fall
Spain: Aldeasa appoints new chairman
UK: Earnings rocket at Pets at Home
ECONOMIC NEWS
Australia: Retail sales flat in March
Germany: Online sales rise
Italy: Retail sales stay flat in February
Netherlands: Retail sales suffer drop
UK: Retail sales edge up in April, says ONS
UK: Retail sales take a dive, says CBI
UK: Retail sales lowest in a decade, says BRC
US: Consumer spending rebounds in US
COMPANY PROFILE: DIXONS GROUP
 MARKET CONTEXT
Figure 1: UK: Consumer spending on electricals by major product category, 2003
Market prospects
 DIXONS GROUP SUMMARY
 FINANCES
Figure 2: Dixons Group: Financial data, 1998/99-2002/03
 DIXONS GROUP FASCIAS
Currys
Figure 3: Currys: Sales and store data, 1998/99-2002/03
Dixons
Figure 4: Dixons: Sales and store data, 1998/99-2002/03
The Link
Figure 5: The Link: Sales and store data, 1998/99-2002/03
PC World
Figure 6: PC World: Sales and store data, 1998/99-2002/03
International fascias
Figure 7: Dixons Group: International operations, by fascia, 2002/03
Elkjøp
Figure 8: Elkjøp: Sales and store data, 1999/2000-2002/03
Dixons Ireland
Figure 9: Dixons Ireland: Sales and store data, 1998/99-2002/03
UniEuro
Figure 10: UniEuro: Financial and outlet data, 2000-03
PC City
Figure 11: PC City: Sales and store data, 1999/2000-2002/03
Electro World
Products
Figure 12: Dixons Group sales by product, 1998/99

This report is supplied in accordance with Mintel's terms and conditions.  
© Mintel Group Ltd.