Global retail update

Store openings

Albania is due to get another four Spar supermarkets, bringing the total to 23 Spar supermarkets and three Interspar hypermarkets. French grocer Auchan is making its next play in Romania, with plans to open its first supermarket there. It currently operates hypermarkets and convenience stores in the country.

Alibaba eyes rentals

The e-commerce giant has signed an agreement with its hometown, Hangzhou, to use its technology in an official online platform for property rentals. The deal covers apartments across all sources – government, individuals, real estate developers and agents. It is hoped the project will help resolve fraudulent deals and volatile disputes, which are rife in the sector.

UK grocery games

Sainsbury’s has put its takeover talks with Nisa on hold until it gets a better feel for how the local competition authority would handle the deal. The decision comes following concerns expressed by the authority over the Tesco-Booker merger. Waitrose has joined Tesco in covering the ‘tampon tax’ on women’s sanitary products.

Pleasing results

Australian electronics chain JB Hi-Fi exceeded its own expectations, enjoying a 13% boost in profit. Strong sales in phones, computers, audio equipment and home appliances are behind the result. Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com also surprised, with a 43.6% jump in revenue for Q2.

KFC gets busy

The fast food giant is capitalising on the rising appetite for fried chicken in Asia, with plans to more than double the number of stores in South Korea over the next six years. Over in Thailand, Chasng beer maker Thai Beverage will buy more than 240 KFC outlets for US $340 million.

Let’s get digital

US fashion retailer Gap has launched its newest digital flagship store on Yahoo! Taiwan. The company says the move reflects the growing shift online in the region. Customers will have the option to pick up orders at nearby stores or local fulfillment locations.

Aldi US teams up for delivery

The German discounter has entered a partnership with Instacart to deliver groceries in three US cities, a move that comes amid intense competition and disruption in the industry. Aldi will launch a pilot starting the end of this month with the potential of expanding to more cities in the future.

Cool down

Amazon continues to close in on the lucrative grocery market, with ready-made meals that don’t require refrigeration. If the technology is a success, it would be a big step forward for the company’s food ambitions. On the flip side, Kraft Heinz says refrigerated foods are on the way up, and has teamed up with Oprah Winfrey to launch a line of retail comfort foods.

More job cuts

High street homewares chain Wilko has become the latest UK retailer to make staffing cuts. The company has placed nearly 4,000 employees under consultation as it looks to simplify its team structure, following claims the government’s minimum living wage has dented its profits.