CEE fuel retailing: network rationalization over expansion

The Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Romania are the biggest consumers of motor fuel in Central and Eastern Europe, according to new research from Datamonitor. These countries have not only experienced tremendous growth, but also offer considerable potential for both existing fuel retailers and new entrants to the market.

Published By Datamonitor

Wal-Mart: China in its hands

Wal-Mart has announced plans to double its number of outlets in China to tap into a liberalizing market. Despite regulatory relaxation, the chain intends to continue investing in partnership with Chinese players rather than via solo ventures. Yet such an approach appears prudent, enabling Wal-Mart to reassess in the future if its stores prove successful.

Published By Datamonitor

Commercial fuel retail: fuel cards lead the way in Europe

Published By Datamonitor

Tesco/BP: superpower petrol

Tesco has bid for 30 of Wm Morrison stores on BP forecourts in a move that would see the UK supermarket giant expand its convenience store network. Although the buy could conflict somewhat with BP's forecourt deal with Marks & Spencer, Tesco is unlikely to be deterred: the chance to unite with one of the most high profile brands in fuel retail is an opportunity too good to miss.

Published By Datamonitor

A tough Christmas beckons for retailers, but the worst may already be over

There is no doubt that 2005 has been a dreadful year on the high street and as the festive season approaches, most retailers are extremely cautious about their prospects. However, while the economic news has been highly discouraging for those retailers awaiting an upturn in their fortunes, according to retail specialists Verdict there may soon be light at the end of the tunnel ...

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Italian fuel retail: independents fear the hypermarket invasion

The liberalization of fuel retailing in Italy in November will herald the entrance of hypermarkets on the forecourt. Independent fuel retailers who fear being ousted on the basis of price are to protest by striking. However, despite their forebodings, their strikes will in all likelihood fail and this spells good news for the consumer.

Published By Datamonitor

Eastern European Retail: foreign chains rattle the small shopkeepers

The new Polish government of the conservative Law and Justice party has promised to examine the encroachment of hypermarkets into the country's retail sector. However, an element of political calculation is thought to be involved in this: while about 100,000 people are employed in large stores, the retail sector as a whole employs more than 2 million, mainly in small independent shops.

Published By Datamonitor

Neighborhood shops are the new retail winners

The arrival of the major grocers in the UK's small store arena is driving improved sector performance, with neighborhood shops growing sales per square foot faster than their high street or out-of-town rivals. To counter the threat posed by supermarket giants such as Tesco, smaller convenience stores need to improve their service offerings and position themselves as the hub of local communities.

Published By Datamonitor

UK retail: bargains drying up for private equity

According to the City law firm Eversheds, the appetite amongst private equity investors for involvement in the retail sector remains healthy, despite the general pessimism over retail sales from most quarters. However in the current low growth environment, the fast-return retail bargains of previous years are becoming increasingly few and far between.

Published By Datamonitor

BRC figures positive, not indicative of retail recovery

Despite fears of a slowdown in sales on Britain's high streets, the British Retail Consortium has reported that total retail sales in December 2005 were 6% up on the year before, the best result for any month since May 2004. However these figures should be treated with some caution as they do not account for the myriad exceptional factors influencing Christmas trading this year.

Published By Datamonitor