Ahold: catching up Carrefour

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Ahold: the last days of Disco

Scandal-ridden Ahold can't afford any more nasty surprises, so it's focusing on mature markets. For a healthier firm, however, Ahold's South American businesses are a strong opportunity. Emerging markets specialist Tesco understandably decided in March not to buy out the struggling Dutch company - but its Brazilian unit could be another story.

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Auchan: hypermarket concept revitalized through new fascia in France

Following the success of Auchan's Radouga discount hypermarket concept in Russia, the retailer has opened an adapted version in France. The store aims to meet consumer demand for permanently discounted prices and will reduce Auchan's costs by cutting out staffed counters. The format will act as a revitalization model for underperforming hypermarkets in the group's portfolio.

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Auchan: poor hypermarket performance pulls down revenues

Following a challenging year in 2009, French grocer Auchan has reported a marginal rise in sales, driven by its stores abroad. Weak domestic sales and a flagging hypermarket format have prompted the retailer to develop new store formats to meet consumer demand for low prices. Repositioning the hypermarket will prove to be a cost-effective strategy that will boost sales of the format going forward.

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Auchan: targeting demand for convenience with new urban hypermarket concept

Auchan has launched a new city center large store format in France that looks set to fulfill consumers' growing demands for convenience. The format, which complements Auchan's existing French portfolio of hypermarkets and out of town click and collect warehouses, looks capable of competing with competitors' initiatives to target urban consumers due to its superior range and its focus on freshness.

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Auchandirect: online at last

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Carrefour faces tough competition in Brazil

Europe's largest grocer, Carrefour, has reported mixed financial results in H1 2010 across its different geographies. Total sales were E43.73 billion, a rise of 6% year-on-year, while net income rose from -E48m in H1 2009 to E67m. However, regional performance, particularly in Latin America, was less impressive, leading the company to take action.

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Carrefour: abandoning Russia

Europe's largest retailer has reported a lackluster set of third quarter results, but the real shocker was its announcement that it will be leaving Russia, just a few months after opening its first stores there. The unexpected withdrawal comes as a surprise and is a setback for international retail development in the country.

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Carrefour: au revoir and adios Mr Duran

Carrefour, Europe's largest retailer, has announced that Lars Olofsson, a Nestle executive, will replace Jose Luis Duran as the group's chief executive. As the call for change sounds across the world, Carrefour's key investors, disheartened by the group's dwindling share price, have ousted the group's chief just as some of Mr Duran's strategic decisions appear to be having the desired effects.

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Carrefour: beauty contest with Tesco

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