John Hoerner is the Former Chief Executive Officer of Tesco Central European Clothing, and Former Chief Executive of Tesco UK Clothing and International Sourcing, John is also involved with the BAA, and British Fashion Council.

http://tinyurl.com/ygstm4l

IKEA announce plans for Abu Dhabi, early 2011
IKEA UAE, part of Al-Futtaim Group, said it expects to serve nearly 1.3 million visitors in the first year of operations it opens for business on Yas Island, the new leisure and entertainment destination under development by Aldar Properties, ARABIAN BUSINESS

http://tinyurl.com/ylqvynz

Express Avenue in Chennai, soft launch on April 1, 2010
Kim Culley, chief operations officer said, “Express Avenue will cater to a cross section of population and house brands starting from Big Bazaar to Lifestyle, to Marks & Spencer and other luxury and premium brands. INDIA RETAILING.

http://tinyurl.com/ygunxqp

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SAP: Leo Apotheker – Gone after 8 months…
He had taken the helm at SAP, the world’s third-biggest software firm, only in May. Mr Apotheker resigned after SAP’s supervisory board had decided not to extend his contract. THE ECONOMIST

http://tinyurl.com/yf8p4aq

GENERAL MOTORS: Opel arm on product offensive, and GM heading into India
Opel unit will invest 11bn euros ($15bn; £9.7bn) over the next five years to develop new products. Video discussion on developing into the Delhi markets by GM India chief, Karl Slym. BBC NEWS.

http://tinyurl.com/yjd56qj

IT SYSTEMS: Epicor Retail Business Intelligence 2.0.
New and enhanced features help retailers gain critical and timely business insight to gauge and improve execution and assist in enterprise decision-making, a new enhanced user interface, and an extended data model. RETAIL TECHNOLOGY REVIEW

http://tinyurl.com/ycdtmko

Trinity Mirror Group buys local paperS
TMG has agreed to buy Guardian Media Group’s local newspapers for 44.8 million pounds to extend its regional reach, the first major step in consolidating Britain’s battered local media. REUTERS UK

http://tinyurl.com/yzpet5t

Threat of the first ever IT staff strike back in talks at Fujitsu
Unite union members at Fujitsu have called off a strike as talks take place to solve the UK’s first ever national IT workers’ strike. More action threatened next week over pay, pensions and redundancies. CIO

http://tinyurl.com/yk5wrpb

Cinépolis India, a wholly owned subsidiary of Mexico-based mutliplex chain Cinépolis, launched its first screen multiplex in India at Advance India Project Ltd. INDIA RETAILING.

http://tinyurl.com/yhtxe2b

India’s MAJOR BRANDS to increase to 100 stores

Opening new stores of existing nine international brands – Mango, Aldo, Nine West, Promod, Charles & Keith, La Senza, Okaidi, Aldo Accessories and Inglot – in premier malls across India and will reach a target of 100 stores by March 2011. INDIA RETAILING.

http://tinyurl.com/yh5do77

As NHS management expenditure tightens, management consultancy costs are in the spotlight. The NHS is big business for the consultancy industry. We spend hundreds of millions of pounds a year on consultancy services. Over the next period, we need to ensure that as section 3.55 of the NHS Operating Framework 2010/11 states, external consultancy is “used only when there are no other options” and that every pound invested in consultancy support delivers a significant return. However, this doesn’t mean the demise of the consultancy industry in the NHS. In fact I believe that management consultants can play an even more effective role and help us get better, faster results. HSJ. http://tinyurl.com/yhadg3e

As the year end draws to a close we’d like to wish all of you a very HAPPY NEW YEAR for 2010

Online Organisation Tools are the next big thing for business

Imagine a day, which won’t be too far in the future, when as part of your media buying campaign you’ll buy access to many millions of individuals through this location-based service as the phone becomes a mini-billboard. CITY AM.

http://tinyurl.com/yfulbee

Cadbury’s ongoing defence against Kraft

Cadbury has been granted three extra days to put together a trading statement which could be critical to its defence against a £10.3bn hostile bid from Kraft. FINANCIAL TIMES. 

http://tinyurl.com/yzs2jgm

Fujitsu sign deal with EPoS Distributor

The agreement will see EPoS Distributor become the first UK distributor of Fujitsu’s point-of-sale (PoS) retail hardware products. EPoS Distributor will commence reselling Fujitsu’s retail hardware products in January. RETAIL TECHNOLOGY REVIEW.

http://tinyurl.com/yzpz58v

TED BAKER – Planning for continued growth

Ted Baker’s continuing global growth means it needs to enhance and consolidate its planning processes, for which the company has chosen the Maple Lake application. RETAIL TECHNOLOGY REVIEW.

http://tinyurl.com/yfjxxgn

T’was a good Christmas for mid-sized retailers

Mid-sized retailers enjoyed a decent Christmas with both sales and margins improved, according to BDO’s High Street Sales Tracker. Total sales were up 2.4% for the members of BDO’s index, with fashion up 2.5% and non-fashion up 3.6%. RETAIL WEEK.

http://tinyurl.com/ylxxs6z

Tough year ahead for British Retailers say BRC

2010 will be a difficult year for retailers, but no worse than 2009, according to a survey of its members by the British Retail Consortium. Four out of five retailers surveyed said they expected sales in 2010 to be the same. RETAIL WEEK.

http://tinyurl.com/yh8hvxw

 Australia’s FOOD GROUP RETAIL bets big on the Indian Market

Betting big on the $12-billion Indian retail market, Australia’s Retail Food Group (RFG) plans to make its proposed venture here to be bigger than its domestic operations within the next 15-20 years. INDIA RETAILING.

http://tinyurl.com/yh4lcb8

Adam Colton spoke at the 25th IAF World Apparel Convention 2009  where it was evident that India is emerging as a promising market for global brands and the retailers alike, significantly for its contribution to global textile and apparel trade. INDIA RETAILING.

http://tinyurl.com/yemr2h9

Kellogg’s breakfast dominance threatened due to shelf space allocation

Future Group and Kellogg are reportedly in a margin-tussle over having to allot significant shelf space to the brand because of the large pack sizes, while margins are not commensurate with the shelf-space allocation. INDIA RETAILING

 http://tinyurl.com/y9sct94

Parsvnath and Carrefore announce a likely joint foray in the India Market

Local real estate giant Parsvnath Developers has said it is likely to form a venture with Carrefour soon, regarding retail operations in India. INDIA RETAILING.

http://tinyurl.com/yzl39g8

Reliance Retail expands into new cities

“This expansion would encompass new cities, new markets and new strategic alliances,” Reliance Industries Chairman and Managing Director, Mukesh Ambani, told shareholders at the company’s 35th Annual General Meeting. INDIA RETAILING.

http://tinyurl.com/ygoyh4d

CBI: Recession is the catalyst for a decade of Business Change

The recession has raised concerns about commercial models, supply chains and finance that will reshape business behaviour well into the next decade, the CBI said today.

Retail & Company News

Draper Awards

Client successes were fervent at the Draper Awards Last week with White Stuff taking two awards for Best Smaller Multiple & Multiple Retailer (beating John Lewis!), and ASOS took etailer of the year. Congratulations!

 Cosmen Family Ups Interest in National Express

The Cosmen’s rose their stake twice in the last week to 19.72% from 18.97% ahead of a vital vote on National Express’s £360million rights issue. They would rather a tie-up with rivals such as Stagecoach. Voting takes place this Friday.

Sports Direct Hire a new permanent Chairman – Keith Hellawell

Hellawell says he is ‘delighted to join the board of Sports Direct and … looking forward to contributing to its continuing success in the retail sector.” 

Bollands Exit Creates a Gap

Following on from last weeks revelation that Mark Bolland was moving to M&S there is wide spread speculation about who will fulfil his role are Morrison’s.

Postal Strikes cost online retailers £53million in lost growth in October

‘the decline in e-retail sales values and volumes during the second half of the month shows that consumer confidence was affected by the Royal Mail strikes’.

 Comment

Google’s winning streak is based on apparently ‘giving something for nothing’ but…

‘if it doesn’t include consumers in its business plan, by giving them a cut of the value created by their personal information..’ then someone else probably will.   

India News

Kellogg’s breakfast dominance threatened due to shelf space allocation

Future Group and Kellogg are reportedly in a margin-tussle over having to allot significant shelf space to the brand because of the large pack sizes, while margins are not commensurate with the shelf-space allocation.

M&S Head of Buying votes for accessible fashion

Adam Colton spoke at the 25th IAF World Apparel Convention 2009  where it was evident that India is emerging as a promising market for global brands and the retailers alike, significantly for its contribution to global textile and apparel trade. 

Speaking last week at a Morgan Stanley event in Arizona, Bill Simon, executive vice president and COO, Wal-Mart Stores U.S., detailed early results from Project Impact, an initiative that includes updating store lay outs and displays in new and remodeled stores to focus on merchandise that enjoys the best consumer reaction and, as a result, moves from distribution system to consumer most efficiently. That not only allows Wal-Mart to turn over its inventory effectively, it also allows the company to trim assortments so it always is offering what customers want without the clutter of what they don’t. The goal is a quick to shop, friendly and clean store environment, Simon said.

Project Impact also permits Wal-Mart to provide “bold” prices in popular product categories, he said, with efficiencies driving savings to consumers. In fact, its surveys indicate that the company enjoys a 13.5 percent price advantage over its leading competitor, Simon asserted. He didn’t name the competitor, but Target would certainly be indicated.

Driving efficiencies in Project Impact is a merchandise evaluation and designation concept Wal-Mart dubs “win, play, show.” Categories where Wal-Mart dominates are designated win, and Simon said the company is focusing efforts in them on establishing even clearer price leadership as well as on enhancing displays in the aisle and in feature presentations, such as those at aisle ends.

Conversely, in show categories where it isn’t evidently dominant, Wal-Mart is scaling back assortments at store level to essential items but enhancing them on the company’s web site. So Project Impact also is having an influence on Wal-Mart’s development as a multi-channel retailer that balances store and online selling. Simon noted that the company’s site-to-store program, which allows customers to order online then pick up merchandise at stores to avoid delivery fees, had been a significant boost to Wal-Mart’s Internet-based sales, aiding in efforts to “offer a broader assortment without distorting the store in a way that we are not happy with.”

Simon said that Project Impact had been a factor behind the strength of Wal-Mart’s recent performance allowing it to reduce inventory by 1.2 percent even as it increased sales by 6.8 percent.

Focus on high-demand merchandise and efficiency in moving it through the store always have been key to Wal-Mart’s success, and Project Impact demonstrates the company hasn’t lost site of where its advantage lies.

Source: INDUSTRY BNET

All Nurses must have degrees by 2013. The courses, lasting up to four years, will meet standards developed by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).

http://tinyurl.com/y8nmnu9

Gini & Jony will leverage the substantial and ever-growing network of Reliance Footprint, including Levi’s and Puma children’s footware range, now available at all outlets in Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad and Kochi, soon debuting in other cities.

ASOS beat UK High street with overseas sales

Pre-tax profits jumped 9%, with the softening UK market and strong overseas sales from its presence in Germany, France, Denmark and the US. CITY AM.

http://tinyurl.com/yd9lxlb

Canon bidding for Oce

CANON plans to buy Dutch copier and printer maker Oce for €730m (£650m), in a challenge to rivals Ricoh and Xerox in the hunt for growth.  CITY AM. 

http://tinyurl.com/y8fdm2f

M&S names Mark Bolland as new Chief Exec after Stewart Rose

Rose said: “Marc brings a wealth of consumer marketing experience and has made a great success of his time at Morrisons.”  BBC NEWS. 

http://tinyurl.com/yzb5cch

Mothercare uses the downturn for a property reshuffle

Another 31 landmark parenting shops will be opened over three years, including 10 in the current year, and the intention is to have 120 altogether. RETAIL WEEK.

http://tinyurl.com/ykk3q7v

MBL UK ties with Best Buy

MBL shares rocketed yesterday after it had signed a contract with US retail giant Best Buy for the exclusive supply of its DVDs, BluRay disks and CDs. CITY AM.

http://tinyurl.com/yf6vesd

Hersheys and Ferreo going after Kraft for Cadbury

Italy’s Ferrero said it was in the “preliminary stages” of looking at its options, while US firm Hershey said making a bid was a possibility. BBC NEWS.

http://tinyurl.com/y9fborl

Cloud Computing – Join the debate…

Can it be trusted, what are the impacts and uses? Read the views and join the debate with a current 43% trusting clouds and 57% saying no. ECONOMIST.

http://tinyurl.com/yjod8mt

Freight Trains Vs Supply Chains

Our competitors are using freight trains to move stock. Would it benefit my supply chain? A retail system question answered! RETAIL WEEK.

http://tinyurl.com/ydrpqc4

Parsvnath and Carrefore announce a likely joint foray in the India Market

Local real estate giant Parsvnath Developers has said it is likely to form a venture with Carrefour soon, regarding retail operations in India. INDIA RETAILING.

http://tinyurl.com/yzl39g8

Reliance Retail expands into new cities

“This expansion would encompass new cities, new markets and new strategic alliances,” Reliance Industries Chairman and Managing Director, Mukesh Ambani, told shareholders at the company’s 35th Annual General Meeting. INDIA RETAILING.

http://tinyurl.com/ygoyh4d

Setting up a National Care Service would be equivalent to the creation of the NHS – now to tell the public what social care is

http://tinyurl.com/ygn2zl7

Warner Chilcott pays £1.9bn for P&G medicine arm

‘Transformational’ drugs deal backed by Wall Street banks

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• Government to spend £6bn on overseas healthcare by 2015
• PM offers cash and help to create free systems

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NHS staff sickness rates 1.5 times private sector level, health report finds

• More than 45,000 NHS workers a day report sick
• Staff have higher levels of obesity and poor mental health

http://tinyurl.com/kmp4p3

NHS or US healthcare?

The debate about the relative merits of the NHS and US healthcare continues to rage. But if you were to fall ill, which system would you rather be treated under?

http://tinyurl.com/yfztnzg