Newspaper retail round up

Tesco originally planned 10,000 US stores

Tesco chief Sir Terry Leahy originally planned to open 10,000 stores in the US, according to Colin Smith, the former Tesco executive who led the US research project.

Wal-Mart eyes smaller stores

US supermarket chain Wal-Mart is looking to open smaller convenience stores in urban areas such as Chicago and Los Angeles to reinvigorate growth in its home market.

New Look float delayed

New Look, the value fashion retailer is unlikely to try to float again before 2012, following the decision to pull an initial public offering earlier this year amid difficult high street trading conditions.

From The Financial Times

Milk price war impacts farmers

The milk price war between the supermarkets has been blamed for a profit warning at Robert Wisman Dairies. Asda and Tesco have slashed prices but Tesco says it has committed to paying farmers in the Tesco Sustainable Dairy Group (TSDG) a higher price for milk.

River Island boosted by expansion

High street fashion retailer River Island has reported a 7.9% sales increase to £826m, boosted by expansion online and abroad.

Dunelm looks to double size of business

Dunelm, the UKs largest homeware and soft furnishings chain, has appointed its first chief executive from outside its founding family and outlined a strategy to double the size of the business. Halfords finance director Nick Wharton will take on the role in February.

From The Times

Cheap fashion on the way out

High street fashion chains are warning that rising commodity prices will mean that the days of cheap fashion are numbered.

From The Guardian

Tesco ups its game

Supermarket chain Tesco is to sell Viagra over the counter, cutting the price of other UK retailers by half.

E-commerce not so green after all

Online shopping is no better for the environment than driving to the store despite being touted as a way to cut down car journeys, according to a report by the Institution of Engineering and Technology,

From The Telegraph