Newspaper retail round-up

Supermarket promotions reach 40%

Supermarkets now offer up to 40% of products on promotion. Morrisons CEO Dalton Philips says the proportion of goods on sale has increased 3 to 4% since last year.

Sales drop in December

Sales fell 0.3% in December, compared with a 4.2% rise the previous December because of the adverse weather conditions, according to the British Retail Consortium.

Ocado sales soar

Ocado, the online retailer, reported a 26.7% increase in sales for the four weeks to 16 December.

From The Times

 

Sainsbury’s to create 20,000 jobs

Sainsbury’s is planning to create 20,000 new jobs in the coming year as the supermarket sector embarks on one of the biggest store-opening sprees in recent years.

House of Fraser reports good Christmas

House of Fraser has defied negative impact the snow had on much of the high street, reporting an 8.5% rise in sales over Christmas.

From The Guardian

 

Russian oligarch increases HMV stake again

Alexander Mamut, the Russian oligarch has once again increased his stake in entertainment group HMV to 6%.

Debenhams plans out of town stores

Debenhams the department store chain is planning to open two out of town stores to boost sales.

From The Financial Times

 

Tesco looks to Vietnam

Tesco is looking to launch in Vietnam in a move that would extend the grocery giant’s global empire to 15 countries.

From The Independent

 

Signet suffers sales fall at jewellery stores

Signet group has reported that sales at its H Samuel, Ernest Jones and Leslie Davis jewellery chains fell by 4.2% in the nine weeks to 1 January.

Hobbs names new chairman

Fashion retailer Hobbs has named former Maximuscle chairman Iain MacRitchie as its new chair and received £14m additional investment from its majority shareholder 3i.

From The Telegraph