Halfords: motoring ahead

UK-based car and cycle products retailer Halfords has delivered a sparkling set of results, with sales up 9.1% and like-for-like sales ahead by 6.1%. The company is adopting a multi-format expansion strategy and is poised to open its first store in the Czech Republic before 2008. This well polished operation ticks all the right boxes and, as a result, Halfords' success looks set to continue.

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

Confectionary: Czech market will grow at 5.4% per year

Published By Datamonitor

Ahold: disappointing US figures, much work ahead

Ahold's 2006 results reveal a weak US performance and a large task ahead. Ahold's sales reached E44.9 billion, up 2% on 2005. While the Dutch retailer delivered strong growth in its domestic market, the US business, accounting for 70% of turnover, is struggling. Going forward, Ahold needs to reduce debt, return its US and Czech operations to profitability and divest its US foodservice operation.

Published By Datamonitor