Newspaper retail roundup

Victoria’s Secret to hit UK
US lingerie retailer Victoria’s Secret is planning to expand into the UK. It is also planning European franchises of its Bath & Body Works chain.

From The Guardian

Bring back home delivery
The Consumer Focus Report suggests supermarkets bring back home delivery for groceries, to encourage greener shopping and help consumers reduce driving to supermarkets.

Starbucks individual style
Starbucks has opened the first of its new-look, “individualised” coffee shops in a bid to distance itself from its conglomerate, identikit image.

Heavy discounting at Threshers
Threshers is selling off stock at “substantial” mark downs as hundreds of stores are put up for sale after First Quench Retailing fell into administration last week. KPMG, the administrator is hoping to attract families stocking up for the festive season.

Expansion for Apple in 2010
Apple plans to open a new store at Covent Garden in Central London in 2010, signalling a renewed appetite for expansion among retailers.

From The Times

Wal-mart ‘sells’ Asda for £6.9bn
As part of a business restructuring process, the Asda supermarket chain was sold by Wal-mart for £6.9bn to an investment group called Corinth Services, which is part of the Wal-mart Group.

Supermarkets will struggle to meet suppliers code
Supermarkets will struggle to meet the Competition Commission’s February deadline to change the way that they deal with farmers and other suppliers, according to supermarket industry insiders.

Sainsbury is to ban chemicals in fridges
Sainsbury’s is the first UK supermarket to ban the use of “super-global-warming” chemicals in its refrigerators. It will cool its fridge units with carbon dioxide.

From the Telegraph

Christmas discount battles begin
Britain’s supermarket chains have launched into heavy discounting of toys, DVD boxed sets, Christmas decorations, clothes and electricals for the festive season to fight for the customers displaced by the collapse of Woolworths.

From The Sunday Times