Business Retail News

Retail sales were better than expected in May.

Surprise retail sales figures light fire under consumer stocks

A surprise jump in retail sales statistics lit a fire under Australia's beleaguered discretionary retail stocks on Tuesday, making them some of the best performing on the ASX.

Mall owners are under fire over their treatment of tenants.

Shopping centres warned on cannibalisation

Franchise Council of Australia's Bruce Billson says he "loves" franchising despite recent wage underpayment scandals.

After years of Coles dominance, Woolworths is on the way up.

Woolies resurgence gains steam, Coles has work to do: UBS

Coles will need to splash cash on everything from labour to marketing and store presentation to regain its mojo, UBS says.

New Australian Food and Grocery Council Chief Executive Tanya Barden

Surging energy prices threaten Australia's food makers

Australia's $126 billion food and grocery sector, under pressure from rising energy costs and keen to reduce its reliance on supermarket giants Woolworths and Coles, is exporting more to the US and China.

Dick Smith was listed on the sharemarket by Anchorage Capital in late 2013 and collapsed in January 2016.

Private equity hungry for retail but investors lose appetite

Private equity has boosted its investment in Australian retail to more than $6 billion but investors are struggling to move on from the collapse of Dick Smith and underperformance of Myer.

Amazon's investment in Whole Foods made it clear it was serious about groceries.

Don't believe the Amazon hype: Merrill Lynch

Lagging infrastructure, sparse population and well-developed online shopping habits be roadblocks for Amazon.

Retailers bruised by end of financial year selling

Underperforming retailers are facing an additional hit as investors sell off dud performers to improve their position as the 2017 financial year draws to a close.

Havaianas to change hands amid bribery scandal

The maker of Havaianas, the colourful Brazilian flip-flops donned by celebrities, is poised to pass from one of Brazil's most-powerful families to another thanks to the country's latest political turmoil.

The company, which supplies groceries to IGA supermarkets, reported net profit of $171.9 million for the year ending ...

Amazon, online threat overblown: Metcash boss

The threat of Amazon disrupting Australia's grocery market is overblown and independent supermarkets are better off focusing on their local customers, Metcash's outgoing boss says.

'Intense competition': Metcash full-year net profit slides

Metcash said strong competition in the groceries sector would keep sales under pressure as it reported a 26 per cent slide in full-year net profit.

Amazon's proposed purchase of Whole Foods is its biggest ever, demonstrating it's serious about grocery.

Amazon building own grocery chain 'unlikely'

Retail experts say Amazon's $18 billion bid for upmarket grocer Whole Foods won't deeply affect Australian expansion.

Kaufland is believed to need at least 15 to 20 stores to make its Australian investment viable .

Kaufland inks Australian deals

German discount department store Kaufland has demonstrated its commitment to expanding in Australia by inking deals to buy land.

'End of an era': Green with Envy is no more

The self-proclaimed "Australian destination for fashion" to shut its doors after almost two decades in business.

The Red Rooster listing has failed to take off.

Red Rooster float fails to fly

Plans to float the company behind Red Rooster on the stock market have turned out to be a turkey.

A New Zealand Army soldier prepares to take aim during a training exercise in
Townsville in 2014.

Wesfarmers left with $2.5m bill for Kiwi soldiers' leaking raincoats

The New Zealand Defence Force complained that the jackets were "leaking" and that defence personnel wearing them were getting wet.

Aldi is moving into mixed-use development to secure sites across Melbourne and Sydney.

Aldi amasses $2 billion property portfolio in expansion push

German discount supermarket Aldi has amassed a property portfolio worth close to $2 billion in Australia, providing it with security of tenure and significant capital gains.

Domino's may have to share more profit with franchisees, which would hurt its returns.

'Hold the anchovies!' Domino's may be $800m overvalued

Domino's Pizza is more than $800 million overvalued and will not meet its ambitious growth targets because it needs to share more profit with store owners, investment bank Citi says.

Retail Food Group cut its profit forecast by $3.3 million.

Retail Food Group shares dumped after profit warning

The owner of chains including Michel's Patisserie, Gloria Jean's Coffees, Donut King and Brumby's Bakery has cut its profit forecast for 2017 by $3.3 million after running into trouble internationally..

A successful Boxing Day requires good planning, and comfortable shoes.

Amazon is taking on bricks-and-mortar's last advantage

For many people, buying clothing online is not worth the hassle of getting a pair of pants or a shirt that does not fit. That is about to change if Amazon gets its way.

Despite a recent sales slump, Whole Foods still has a passionate following among foodie shoppers.

'Truly love at first sight': How Amazon wooed Whole Foods

Whole Foods' 63-year-old CEO says he was set up with Amazon on a "blind date" about six weeks ago and fell in love after conversing for hours.

Oroton said numerous parties had expressed interest in exploring options, which might involve a sale, refinancing of ...

Sale in the mix as OrotonGroup weighs its options

Retailer OrotonGroup says it has received expressions of interest that could involve a sale of the company and plans to begin a formal process to explore its options.

Robbert Rietbroek, CEO of PepsiCo ANZ, believes companies and their senior leadership need to do more to support women's ...

The company where women get promoted while on maternity leave

In corporate Australia where there are just a handful of female CEOs on the ASX 200, and 13 of the nation's largest boards still without any women on it, male chiefs need to push women to climb the corporate ladder.

Amazon will acquire 460 stores through the $18 billion investment.

Amazon's grocery plans hit Australian supermarkets

Online retailer Amazon snapping up the American grocery chain Whole Foods put a chill through Australian supermarkets.

Red Rooster is looking to float on the ASX.

KFC to trial home delivery

KFC Australia will trial home delivery next month, as the chicken frying giant tries to keep pace with the rapidly changing fast food market.

For exposure to the shifting consumer trends driven by Millennials, investors can look to more than avocados.

How Millennials will shift Australia's spending habits

By 2030, two out of every three dollars earned in Australia will accrue to those who reached adulthood in the digital age.

A customer uses a tablet computer to place an order at the new Whole Foods Market in Los Angeles.

'Potentially terrifying': Amazon's $18bn deal set to shake up retail

The dramatic deal confirmed what had long been feared: Amazon was going on the offensive on the turf of traditional supermarkets.

Why you're seeing retail and car ads everywhere

Australia's biggest retailers have increased advertising by 10 per cent and are tipped to splash even more cash in the second half as online marketplace Amazon ramps up its expansion.

"I know how long it takes": Retail billionaire Gerry Harvey says said Australia should be well down the list of places ...

'I know how long it takes' - Gerry Harvey's Amazon warning

Billionaire retailer Gerry Harvey says market has overestimated how quickly Amazon will get land in Australia and start delivering quickly.

Amazon.com Inc shelled out $US13.7 billion to acquire Whole Foods Market Inc.

Amazon to acquire Whole Foods for $18 billion

Amazon.com will acquire Whole Foods Market in a $US13.7 billion ($18 billion) deal, marking the biggest transaction ever for the e-commerce giant as it pushes deeper into groceries.