Carrefour growing internationally

Internationally, Carrefour’s (excluding France) sales in the fourth quarter of 2014 increased by 6.6%, with marked improvements in Latin America and Europe. The total turnover from international operations amounted to more than €12 bln. 

In France, the supermarket chain also grew, but to a lower extent. Carrefour's total revenue in 2014 amounted to €84 bln, an increase of 3.9%. In France, the turnover reached approximately a growth of 1.2%. International sales grew by 5.9%.

Growth in Brazilian market

International revenue is largely achieved in Europe (excluding France). The continent accounts for €21.7 bln Euro in turnover. In 2014, however, sales in this area dropped by 0.3%. Latin America, on the other hand, registered a sharp growth in sales. In 2014, Carrefour reached a growth of 18.1%. Brazil is the market where the retailer grew the most, with turnover increasing by 11.9%. Sales in Asia dropped by 1.8%.

Three out of four Australians say Coles and Woolworths are too powerful and would like tougher laws to boost competition in the $88 bln grocery market Masters Grocer survey shows, amazonherald.com reports.

With a 22.1% market share and a 0.6% growth compared to 2013, Mercadona was the leading Spanish supermarket in 2014, according to a study by Kantar Worldpanel. Its closest rival is Carrefour, which reached a 7.7% market share, 0.2% above 2013, while the third place was for DIA, with a 7.6% market share. They were followed by Eroski, with 3.3%; Lidl, with 3.1%; Auchan, 2.8%; Consum, 1.9%; Eroski Hyper, 1.6%; Ahorramás, 1.5%, and Caprabo (now part of Eroski), with 1.3%.

UK: Tesco reducing charges imposed on suppliers 

Tesco is radically restructuring the way it works with suppliers, cutting the number of ways in which it charges them from 24 to just three, The Guardian reports. The plan was outlined by Dave Lewis, the chief executive, as the groceries watchdog investigates Tesco over its dealings with manufacturers and distributors in the wake of a £263m accounting scandal linked to misstatement of income from such suppliers.

Cencosud has reported a revenue increase of 7.0% for Q4 2014, driven by higher sales in all its business divisions. Revenue growth for supermarkets was up 7.7%, driven by 12 new stores in the region and positive same store sales growth across Cencosud's five markets, IGD Retail Analysis reports. The Chilean economy began to recover in Q4, which no doubt contributed to Cencosud achieving same store sales growth of 6.2% for the quarter in its supermarket business. There are slightly more worrying trends in the Brazilian economy, with weakening consumer confidence in November and December continuing into the first quarter of 2015. In Peru, the retail sector grew over the quarter, and GDP growth was up moderately, IGD Retail Analysis reports.

Brazilian retailer DMA Distribuidora is set to acquire the Araújo Hipermercados chain, based in the interior of Minas Gerais state, IGD Retail Analysis reports. It comprises ten stores.

Around 20 bosses at Bradford-based supermarket giants Morrisons are being axed by new chief executive David Potts in a second wave of cuts to the top tiers of management at the under-performing high street chain, itv.com reports.

Japanese retailer Aeon announced its financial report for 2014, stating that the company's Chinese business gained profit of HKD7.1 mln (€0.85 mln) during the reporting period, chinaretailnews.com reports. This was reportedly the first time for Aeon, which had entered the Chinese market for nearly 30 years, to make profit in China. In 2013, the Japanese retailer made losses of HKD56.9 mln (€6.7 mln) in this marketplace.

Carrefour Belgium will soon provide its customers with a facility for scanning items in their homes so they can then order them online, EPR Retail News reports. The device will also recognize products marketed by competitors, and scanning them will generate spontaneous suggestions from Carrefour.

Shoprite announces opening of six new supermarkets across the country, mediaupdate.co.za reports. The Group opened 27 new supermarkets since July 2014 and is on track to open a further 25 supermarkets across the Shoprite, Checkers and Usave brands by the end of June.

West Coast grocery store chain Haggen will make a donation of more than 45,000 pounds of apples to Northwest Harvest and the Oregon Food Bank to help feed the hungry in local communities in Oregon and Washington, according to a press release. 

Latvia's retail sales growth accelerated for the second straight month in February, figures from the Central Statistical Bureau showed Monday, rttnews.com reports. Sales of food products grew 6.2% annually in February. 

Germany's retail sales growth eased at a slower-than-expected pace in February, preliminary figures from Destatis showed Tuesday, lse.co.uk reports. Sales of food, beverages and tobacco advanced 1.5% in February from a year ago.

French retailer Auchan will become the first shopping chain in Italy to offer simultaneous translation of sign language, esmmagazine.com reports. Auchan will introduce simultaneous translation at a distance of the Italian Sign Language "E-lisir", an initiative that aims to enable people with deafness to deal independently with paperwork, administrative and everyday life.