New buying group to challenge Metcash model

A group of hardware retailers and suppliers have thrown their support behind a fledgling, independent buying group that will challenge Metcash's wholesale distribution business.

Price not be-all and end-all, supermarkets told

Appearance, service, product range and opening hours are a crucial part of the mix, as research shows US chain Costco is much cheaper than the big two supermarkets.

Bunnings swoops on Masters sites to drive major expansion

Hardware giant Bunnings has capitalised on the collapse of its biggest competitor, stitching up deals to move into 11 former Masters stores.

Aldi launches online sales in China, using Aussie suppliers

German discount supermarket chain Aldi is planning to start online sales in China this month, hoping to appeal to Chinese consumers with a selection of wine, snack and breakfast products.

Beacon shines in post-Masters market

Beacon Lighting is expected to open a record number of stores in the next few months after battling through the liquidation of Masters Home Improvement stock late last year.

Department stores face uncertain future as sales shrink

• COMMENT

Australia's department store industry is facing the prospect of shrinking revenue in real terms over the next five years as it battles turbo-charged competition from online and offshore retailers combined with continued weak consumer sentiment.

'Budget-conscious mums', Woolies revival forcing Coles prices lower

Woolworths' second quarter win over supermarket rival Coles has convinced grocery suppliers the turn-around is bringing shoppers back to Australia's biggest supermarket chain and they're backing the chain's brand-focused strategy.

'We're struggling,' say enraged Caltex franchisees

Simmering tensions between Caltex management and their store owners spilled over onto the streets of Sydney as franchisees marched on the company's head office.

Blistering conditions turn around Harvey Norman's sales trend

Sweltering summer temperatures on the eastern seaboard have rescued Harvey Norman's sliding sales growth as the furniture and whitegoods giant looks to its overseas retail outlets to drive growth.

Bellamy's directors out but Cameron misses out on seat

Retail queen Jan Cameron has failed in her bid to join the board of troubled baby formula marketer Bellamy's Australia, but has succeeded in turfing out existing directors and getting her associates appointed.

Black Princess gets her board

• ANALYSIS

Jan Cameron was there in the front row. The Black Princess herself, who for some time denied she was linked to the mysterious Black Prince entity that was trying to roll the Bellamy's board before it was revealed, in fact, she was.

Sheikh's death throws $135m Specialty Fashion takeover into doubt

Apparel retailer the Specialty Fashion Group says it is uncertain whether a takeover offer it received from Middle Eastern investment company Al Alfia will go ahead.

Surfstitch narrows loss but cuts guidance

Online clothing and sports equipment retailer Surfstitch has narrowed its half-year loss to $8.3 million from $14.5 million a year earlier.

South African retailers marching to our shores

Australian retailers are se to face a new entrant with many South African-based brands now discovering that there is a new market near their door step, with a similar climate, time zone and consumer outlook.

Super funds snag new handbag business

Money continues to flow into retail, despite more than 2,100 retail business collapsing over the past two financial years.

'Electricity is going up by a fortune this year'

Spiraling utility costs are adding to the pressure on Australia's supermarket sector which is already battling the toughest conditions in three years, according to Coles.

Meet the King of the KitKats

It doesn't take long to appreciate that Magdi Batato has one of the biggest private sector jobs in the world.

Pink it and shrink it? Sports equipment catches up with women's success

"I didn't even realise that was such a problem for these young girls."

Domino's admits 'screw up' on marketing fund

Fast food giant Domino's Pizza is being probed by the consumer regulator after it was caught out in potentially in breach of laws designed to protect its own store owners.

Domino's faces 11 per cent wage hike: Deutsche Bank

Domino's pay practices have come under the spotlight following a Fair Work Ombusdman investigation into alleged underpayment of staff.

Shoes giant RCG cuts guidance on 'challenging' conditions

Owner of Vans, Dr Martens and Skechers says lower dollar, slower than expected start to spring, weakness in lifestyle shoes hurt.

Penalty rates reduction puts the experience back to Sunday

Sunday is the No.1 trading day for many of Fred Harrison's grocery stores, and now he's looking forward to putting some experienced staff back on the weekend roster.

Crown hits 'pause' on China after arrests

• UPDATED

Crown Resorts' half-year result slumps on collapse in VIP revenue.

Water fight declared as Coca-Cola Amatil under pressure on price

Competition in the increasingly-crowded bottled water market has forced Coca-Cola Amatil to cut the price of its packaged H20.

Woolworths goes after the family spend

Woolworths is closing-in on Coles' family shoppers after transforming its billion-dollar investment in price into a record-breaking second quarter sales surge.

Big W's ugly result spoils Woolies' big day

• COMMENT

As Woolworths celebrated the early signs of improvement in supermarket sales attention turned to the real elephant in the aisle - the ugly loss notched up by Big W and the continued bleeding of its sales.

Woolworths breaks 7.5-year losing streak

Woolworths broke its 30-quarter losing stream by winning the second quarter sales race with Coles, posting a 3.1 per cent increase in same store sales for the second quarter compared to must 0.9 per cent growth at Coles.

Coca-Cola Amatil to close plant, cut 180 jobs

Coca-Cola Amatil will close its manufacturing plant in South Australia, at a loss of about 180 jobs, and shift the work to Queensland as part of a $90 million reorganisation.

The bright spots of Australian retail

Retail has had a rough and ready couple of months, but some companies are shooting it out of the park.