Daily Archives: December 23, 2015

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Thailand: Starbucks volunteers joined 500 middle and high school students for the Youth Skill Development and Food Sustainability Project

Thailand, 2015-12-23 — /EPR Retail News/ — When Starbucks Thailand partners (employees) set out to volunteer at a local school, they had no idea the impact they would make throughout the community.

Recently, Starbucks volunteers joined 500 middle and high school students for the Youth Skill Development and Food Sustainability Project in partnership with the Books for Children Foundation. The event took place at the Bumrung-Raviwan Wittaya School, which promotes healthy food and living, grows vegetables for school and home meals, and sells leftover crops to student families. Combined, 330 volunteer hours impacted nearly 5,000 students and their families, along with others in the community.

“At Starbucks, our long-term commitment is to make a positive and sustainable change in the areas of environment, society and economy,” said Murray Darling, managing director of Starbucks Coffee Thailand. “The community event allowed us to reaffirm the company’s long-term commitment to local communities.”

For part of the day, students practiced project planning, leadership and communications skills during a food sustainability project. Students and volunteers built nursery shelves for vegetables, created an organic shade plot for crops and repaired the pier for a small fish farm.

The majority of the community project focused on skills development through an English conversation class. Starbucks Thailand partners helped students hone their English-speaking skills through songs and word games.

Starbucks volunteers also read stories to a kindergarten class with Ruangsakdi Pinprateep, managing director of the Books for Children Foundation and author of “Ping Pong, Will You Come with the Bear.” This children’s book was funded by a portion of sales from Starbucks Thailand Barista Bears.

“It was such an honor for Starbucks to join us in service,” said Naiyana Aua-amnueychai, director of Bumrung-Raviwan Wittaya School. “We place a great deal of emphasis on English skills development and food sustainability at our school and Starbucks volunteers helped our teachers and students in these areas. We are pleased that Starbucks and our school share the same goal to contribute back to our society.”

Starbucks Thailand has collaborated with Books for Children since 2005. Together, they have collected more than 400,000 books through an annual Christmas book drive and completed a library renovation at Silapadech community. In addition, they completed the Bookstart for Intellectual Disability Children’s Project at Rajanukul Institute and renovated the Wat Kla Cha-um School library and playground.

“By working with Books for Children for the past 10 years, we have delivered educational opportunities to both public and private organizations nationwide,” said Sumonpin Jotikabukkana, marketing and communications director of Starbucks Coffee Thailand. “We realize that literacy is an essential element for children’s development and we aim to do our best to continue to promote and support these areas for Thai children in every sector of the society.”

For more information on this news release, contact the Starbucks Newsroom.

SOURCE: Starbucks Corporation

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Thailand: Starbucks volunteers joined 500 middle and high school students for the Youth Skill Development and Food Sustainability Project

Thailand: Starbucks volunteers joined 500 middle and high school students for the Youth Skill Development and Food Sustainability Project

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Starbucks anticipates record purchases of Starbucks Cards on Dec. 24

SEATTLE, 2015-12-23 — /EPR Retail News/ — As customers finalize their holiday shopping, Starbucks anticipates record purchases of Starbucks Cards on Dec. 24, citing the trend for customers to make their gift card purchases at the last minute.

Last year, nearly 2.5 million Starbucks Cards were purchased in the U.S. and Canada on Christmas Eve – representing approximately 1,700 cards purchased per minute. One in seven American adults received a Starbucks Card last holiday season, and Starbucks is on track for another record performance in Starbucks Card sales.

The National Retail Federation* reports that 58.8 percent of shoppers said they would like to receive a gift card, making it the most requested gift item nine years in a row.  Since Starbucks® Card launched 15 years ago, more than $25 billion has been loaded on Starbucks Cards in the U.S. and Canada alone, with $5.1 billion loaded onto Starbucks Cards in the past fiscal year (Oct 2014 – Sept 2015), and of that total, a record $1.6 billion loaded onto Starbucks Cards in three months (October 2014 through December2014). Starbucks sees the benefits of this increased activity in stores as gift cards received over the holiday season are redeemed.

Today, more than one-third of all transactions in the U.S. and Canada are paid for with a Starbucks Card, and Starbucks Cards are available in more than 31 countries worldwide, with planned expansion in 2016. Starbucks Cards are the gift that keeps on giving. When customers register a Starbucks Card with My Starbucks Rewards® they can start earning stars for purchases at participating stores that can be redeemed year-round for Starbucks beverages and food. Some restrictions apply. Details can be found at www.starbucks.com/rewards.

Starbucks Card Assortment

This holiday season Starbucks is offering more than 60 different gift card designs, from classic holiday themes to whimsical creations from the Starbucks in-house design team. Customers can mix and match for coworkers, teachers, as stocking stuffers, and for any other Starbucks lover in their life.

For ultimate Starbucks fans looking for an exclusive gift, the Starbucks 2015 Premium Card Collection includes three stainless steel cards embellished with Swarovski Crystals. The collection includes two key-chain sized cards, the Silver Crystal Starbucks Card and Champagne Crystal Starbucks Card and a wallet-sized Deep-Blue Crystal Starbucks Card. These premium gifts and are available in limited quantities in select Starbucks® stores in the US and Canada and on Starbucks.com/shop while supplies last. All cards are $200 (plus tax) and come loaded with $50.

Beginning at $5.00, and available in customized amounts up to $500, Starbucks Cards can be purchased at any company-operated location in the U.S. or Canada in a variety of formats and designs, and digital gift cards can be given through the company’s website (www.starbucks.com/shop/card/egift) and mobile apps in the U.S.

Starbucks for Life

The chance to win Starbucks for Life is back with a twist. This holiday season the Starbucks for Life sweepstakes is open exclusively to My Starbucks Rewards® members.

When a My Starbucks Rewards® member pays for their purchase in participating U.S. and Canada stores using a registered card or the Starbucks® Mobile App, he or she receives one game play. The member then goes to starbucksforlife.com and logs in using their My Starbucks Rewards credentials. The customer will then play for the chance to win instant prizes, like bonus stars, or a game piece to place on their mobile game board for the chance to win Starbucks for a day, a week, a month or the grand prize, Starbucks for Life. The sweepstakes runs now to January 11, 2016.

Last year, over a 31-day period, more than 2.3 million customers entered the “It’s a Wonderful Card” sweepstakes, and 10 lucky customers won Starbucks for Life in the U.S. Those 10 winners also received the ultimate Starbucks Card, which not only provides them with Starbucks for Life, but is also a piece of Starbucks history. With an estimated retail value of $5,000, the card is made of 10K hammered gold and is engraved with the winner’s name. This year only seven people will win Starbucks for Life (five in the U.S. and two in Canada), and they will also receive the ultimate Starbucks Card. Only 21 ultimate Starbucks Cards have been made, making it the most exclusive Starbucks Card.

*National Retail Federation (NRF), November 17, 2015

Starbucks for Life Rules

Abbreviated rules for US: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY.  A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING.  LEGAL RESIDENTS OF THE 50 UNITED STATES (D.C) 18 AND OLDER AND WHO ARE MEMBERS OF THE MY STARBUCKS REWARDS® LOYALTY PROGRAM AT THE TIME OF ENTRY.  VOID WHERE PROHIBITED.  Participating stores only.  Promotion ends 1/11/16.  “Starbucks for Life” means the winner will receive a daily credit for 30 years for one free food or beverage item redeemable at participating Starbucks® stores in the U.S. Starbucks Evenings menu items excluded.  Winner must present a registered Starbucks Card.  Credits are non-transferrable and expire within 24 hours. For official rules, how to enter without purchase, prizes and odds, visit http://starbucksforlife.com.  Sponsor:  Starbucks Corporation, 2401 Utah Ave., S., Seattle, WA 981034.  Limit of one (1) instant-win-game prize per day.

Abbreviated rules for Canada: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY.  A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING.  LEGAL RESIDENTS OF CANADA 18 AND OLDER AND WHO ARE MEMBERS OF THE MY STARBUCKS REWARDS® LOYALTY PROGRAM AT THE TIME OF ENTRY.  VOID WHERE PROHIBITED.  Participating stores only.  Promotion ends 1/11/16.  “Starbucks for Life” means the winner will receive a daily credit for 30 years for one free food or beverage item redeemable at participating Starbucks® stores in Canada. Starbucks Evenings menu items excluded.  Winner must present a registered Starbucks Card.  Credits are non-transferrable and expire within 24 hours. For official rules, how to enter without purchase, prizes and odds, visit http://starbucksforlife.ca.  Sponsor:  Starbucks Coffee Canada, 5140 Yonge Street, Suite 1205, Toronto, ON M2N 6L7, Canada.  Limit of one (1) instant-win-game prize per day.

For more information on this news release, contact us.

SOURCE: Starbucks Corporation

 

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Starbucks anticipates record purchases of Starbucks Cards on Dec. 24

Starbucks anticipates record purchases of Starbucks Cards on Dec. 24

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Starbucks store near the bustling Kadikoy Carsi ferry terminal in Istanbul remodeled to add additional three stories

ISTANBUL, TURKEY, 2015-12-23 — /EPR Retail News/ — Each day, dozens of ferries crisscross Istanbul’s Bosphorus Straight, shuttling passengers east and west between Asia and Europe. The design of the remodeled Starbucks store near the bustling Kadikoy Carsi ferry terminal took its inspiration from these daily passages and the aesthetic of the boats and the ferry buildings.

The store, which has served customers in Istanbul since 2007, was remodeled to add an additional three stories. The new design also includes a rooftop terrace with an expansive view over the Bosphorus and life on the waterfront.

“The building is a steel structure with distinct details and we chose to expose the structure as a starting point of the design,” said Eva Wieland, the store’s designer. “The connections created by the ferries inspired the void that we created through four floors of the space to enable customers and partners to experience dramatic views through the café.”

The design team took advantage of the height of the space to create a sculptural artwork of an abstracted coffee tree. Its roots start at the ground floor and slowly reach up through the floors to culminate at the third floor, where abstracted foliage grows through the ceiling in the form of brass light fixtures.

Istanbul is known for its markets and the Kadikoy Starbucks® store is in a lively pedestrian area with a mix traditional and modern shops. The design layers in a rich range of materials, including local marble, brass details, terrazzo flooring and a teak-like iroko wood. Banquette seating with fixed tables reference the seating of the traditional ferries.

“We used the opportunity of the renovation to create something new for our customers and partners,” Wieland said. “Each floor offers a place that encourages customers to discover their favorite spot for a variety of occasions, whether to study, chat or enjoy the view.”

For more information on this news release, contact the Starbucks Newsroom.

SOURCE: Starbucks Corporation

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Starbucks store near the bustling Kadikoy Carsi ferry terminal in Istanbul remodeled to add additional three stories

Starbucks store near the bustling Kadikoy Carsi ferry terminal in Istanbul remodeled to add additional three stories

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Tesco: What are you most likely to forget this Christmas?

  • One in five Brits forget to pick up an essential item for Christmas Day, with one in ten having even forgotten the turkey
  • Batteries, cranberry sauce and Christmas presents are the items most commonly forgotten in the lead up to Christmas

CHESHUNT, England, 2015-12-23 — /EPR Retail News/ — New research commissioned by Tesco reveals almost a third of Brits (30%) are struggling to juggle day-to-day responsibilities with the preparations for Christmas, resulting in one in five (20%) forgetting an essential item for the big day.

Batteries (32%), cranberry sauce (29%) and Christmas presents (22%) top the list of forgotten items, while nearly one in 10 Brits (7%) even forget to pick up the turkey! While batteries may be the item people are most likely to leave behind, the true disappointment lies in forgetting items essential to the main event, with people left disgruntled if presents (41%), the turkey (37%) and the Christmas tree (14%) are left out of the festivities.

The top 10 items Brits are most likely to forget in the rush before Christmas are:

1.      Batteries (32%)

2.      Cranberry Sauce (29%)

3.      Christmas presents (22%)

4.      Sellotape (18%)

5.      Christmas crackers (13%)

6.      Cling Film (12%)

=7.  Gravy (9%)

=7.  Sprouts (9%)

=7.  Gift tags (9%)

=7.  Bread sauce (9%)

The study also reveals the measures taken to avoid disappointment at Christmas, with over half (55%) writing a good old fashioned shopping list, followed by writing reminders in a diary (16%), electronic reminders in a phone or on email (16%) and the simple yet effective tactic of telling a partner to remind them (15%). However, a quarter of us (25%) throw caution to the wind, taking no precautions at all to ensure the essentials are in hand before the big day.

Tesco are also giving away three of the top 10 most commonly forgotten items – cranberry sauce, cling film and gravy – outside Glasgow Central, Manchester Piccadilly, Birmingham New Street and select London tube stations.

Simon Brady, Brand Director at Tesco, says: “We all know what a busy time of year Christmas can be so it’s no surprise a quarter of us leave the big Christmas food shop to the last minute and forget one or two items as a result. This festive season, we want to help make Christmas as easy and enjoyable as possible for our customers so we hope our ‘most forgotten’ list will help jog a few memories and ensure customers have got everything ready in time for the perfect Christmas.”

 

Notes to Editors

Tesco commissioned OnePoll, who carried out the survey research 21st October and polled 2,000 UK adults that celebrate Christmas

*9.8 million people is based on 20 per cent of 49 million adults in the UK aged 18 or overhttp://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/publications/re-reference-tables.html?edition=tcm%3A77-368259

For more information please contact the Tesco Press Office on 01992 644645
We are a team of 480,000 in 11 markets dedicated to serving shoppers a little better every day.

Visit our Christmas 2015 news site at www.tescoplc.com/christmasnews

SOURCE: Tesco PLC

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Tesco built 10,000 sqft store in the space of Tesco Carlisle to help customers affected by the floods in Cumbria

  • Tesco Carlisle superstore closed due to flooding
  • Supermarket builds 10,000 sqft replacement store in a week

CHESHUNT, England, 2015-12-23 — /EPR Retail News/ — Tesco has built a 10,000 sqft store in the space of one week to help customers affected by the floods in Cumbria. The store opens today and was constructed as a temporary replacement for its Carlisle superstore which was badly affected by the recent flooding.

Matt Davies, Tesco UK and ROI CEO said, “We’ve been helping communities across Cumbria following the recent floods and I’m proud of the huge effort made by our colleagues.  We’ve been donating food, toiletries and essentials across Cumbria, from Carlisle to Kendal and every store in the region is acting as a drop off point for donations to the recovery effort.

“We wanted to make sure that people in Carlisle were not left without the service our store provides in the run up to Christmas and have worked extremely hard to get the temporary store up and running. As well as everyday essentials, the new store will stock a great range of festive favourites to ensure customers don’t miss out this Christmas.”

Tesco’s temporary store opens at midday on Friday 18 December with celebrations and a ribbon cutting ceremony. The store will be open 6am to midnight Monday to Saturday and 10am until 4pm on Sundays, with the existing store expected to open fully refurbished in late January 2016.

Tesco’s existing superstore, which has been serving the Carlisle community since 1994, flooded extensively during the recent extreme weather, with waist-high water affecting all of the internal space of the store. Colleagues were evacuated from the store as flood waters encroached upon the car park during Saturday night.

ENDS

 Notes to editors

  • The time-lapse video shows how teams of up to 100 people worked through the night between Friday 11th and Friday 18th December to deliver a new store for customers who were affected by the closure of Tesco’s superstore.
  • We will be able to facilitate photo opportunities on the opening day and over the weekend. Please speak to Mark Thomas: 07889 591 304 / mark.j.thomas@uk.tesco.com if this is of interest.
  • We will have a time-lapse video of the store build available following its completion. Please advise if you would like access to this, which will be made available.
  • Over 30 colleagues were directly impacted by the floods themselves.
  • Tesco has been responding to the crisis by donating food, emergency supplies, toiletries, sanitary products and water to shelters, refuge centres and churches across Cumbria. The Carlisle Victoria Viaduct Metro store is now a free water station, handing out free 5 litre bottles of clean water to those in need. Tesco has given food and supplies to emergency services personnel and their distribution network has donated 30 ‘cages’ of supplies to Carlisle’s independent food bank to support the recovery effort. Colleagues in Tesco’s Workington and Whitehaven have been distributing clothing and food door to door through local flood-hit communities. In Kendal, Tesco’s Express, which opened in late November, has been donating water, sandwiches, fruit and toiletries to the community.
  • Tesco stores across the north of England, from Lincoln to Whitehaven, clubbed together to launch a major toy collection during Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th December so that children who had lost presents during the floods would not be left out this Christmas. Thousands of toys were collected and Eddie Stobarts came to the rescue to transport them all to their Carlisle depot, from where they will be donated to communities across Cumbria, including in Carlisle this weekend.

For more information please contact the Tesco Press Office on 01992 644645
We are a team of 480,000 in 11 markets dedicated to serving shoppers a little better every day.

Visit our Christmas 2015 news site at www.tescoplc.com/christmasnews

SOURCE: Tesco PLC

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Tesco built 10,000 sqft store in the space of Tesco Carlisle to help customers affected by the floods in Cumbria

Tesco built 10,000 sqft store in the space of Tesco Carlisle to help customers affected by the floods in Cumbria

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Tesco survey: three-quarters of UK households plan to leave something out for Santa this Christmas Eve

CHESHUNT, England, 2015-12-23 — /EPR Retail News/ — Tradition wins the day, when it comes to the tipple of choice for Father Christmas as he delivers presents to kids across the country.  A recent survey carried out by Tesco has found that three-quarters of UK households plan to leave something out for Santa this Christmas Eve, with 83 per cent of them admitting that it would be a nip of something a little boozy.

A heart-warming third of UK households will leave St Nick a dram of Whisky to keep him warm during his exploits on Xmas Eve, whilst 19 per cent of homes say that Sherry will be the drink of choice, followed by 14 per cent for Beer and one in ten choosing Wine. Other drinks that will be left out will include Brandy, Port and Rum.

Simon Haithwaite, Tesco’s Christmas Campaign Manager said: ’It would appear that the annual sleigh ride taken by Santa and his team of reindeer is fuelled by more than magic. Even with the rise in the popularity of drinks like Gin and Vodka, the traditional festive tipple of choice- well at least for St Nick – continues to be a tot of finest* Whisky or Sherry’.

There is little chance that Santa will get peckish, with 82 per cent of families saying that along with a drink, they will also leave out mince pies for his night-time visit. Unsurprisingly, as a nation of animal lovers, there’s little chance we’ll forget to leave something for the reindeer. Nine out of ten homes will ensure that plenty of carrots are left out for Rudolph and co.

See the full survey results here

For more information please contact the Tesco Press Office on 01992 644645

We are a team of 480,000 in 11 markets dedicated to serving shoppers a little better every day.

Visit our Christmas 2015 news site at www.tescoplc.com/christmasnews

SOURCE: Tesco PLC

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Tesco survey: three-quarters of UK households plan to leave something out for Santa this Christmas Eve

Tesco survey: three-quarters of UK households plan to leave something out for Santa this Christmas Eve

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Carrefour’s first Italian store modernised

Carugate, ITALY, 2015-12-23 — /EPR Retail News/ — The Carrefour hypermarket in Carugate was the French retail group’s first Italian store, opening way back in 1972. Now it offers a new shopping experience and the world’s first Terre d’Italia restaurant, where customers can take a break from shopping to enjoy tasty, high-quality food. The renovated hypermarket is in Il Carosello shopping centre and has an area of 12,000 m2 with a totally new layout. Customers can now do their shopping immersed in an innovative experiential dimension thanks to a vast section entirely dedicated to fresh produce, household textiles and digital technology.

To emphasize the new orientation of the revamped store and the innovative shopping experience it offers its customers, the architecture is designed to appeal to all 5 senses. Sight: alternating colours along the checkout line, and lively tones in every section. Smell: of bread and cakes, fresh from the oven. Touch: all customers are welcome to pick up all touch-screen products, which are available in self service in the technology section. Taste: selected artisan produce for customers to try (as well as the restaurant). Hearing: a tranquil atmosphere with relaxing music on constant broadcast.

The new hypermarket is divided into 4 principal areas with a totally new layout. Innovative technology and multimedia are strongly in evidence in the “Fashion” and “New Products” areas (the latter also includes a section devoted to gaming and a newspaper kiosk), while the other 2 areas, “Market” And “Everyday Items” offer a wide range of traditional, authentic products, with local food and wine specialities featuring strongly. There’s also a new corner devoted to high-end fruit and vegetables, including many hard-to-find varieties, and a marketplace styled on a Middle Eastern souk, where the air is heady with spicy fragrances. For lovers of exotic foods and fish, the revamped store offers a Sushi Daily bar and a seafood counter that features specially made fresh fish dishes every day.  For the health-conscious, the new Carugate hypermarket offers a juice point and a whole section devoted to organic products and products for customers with diet-related disorders.

The new store format offers a more intuitive, customer-friendly shopping experience, with an emphasis on all-round service that’s unprecedented in Italian retailing. There’s also a totally renovated assortment of household products, an auto service point, and a paint mixing counter where customers can create their own shades of eco-sustainable paint. The media section (books, DVDs, CDs, newspapers and magazines, gift paper etc.) is connected to a play and relaxation area where adults and children alike can play, read and get creative. There’s also a Lego corner, a “shop in shop” with an excellent assortment of toys.

For technology fans, the 42 monitors located around the hypermarket relay all the latest news on products and special offers – and check out the Digital Mirror in the Fashion section. The appliances section features the latest kitchen technology including juicers and slow cookers, mobile technology from drones to wearable online devices, and new-generation home automation solutions.

The large section dedicated to fresh food includes bread baked in a wood-fired oven, made-to-order mozzarella, a new wine section with an exceptional selection of high-end labels, and a huge selection of confectionery in the Cake Design corner.

One of the biggest differentiating features of the new Carugate hypermarket is the butchery section offering the finest Italian cuts (Chianina and Piedmontese, predominantly) and a vast selection of marinated produce prepared to order by specially trained staff.

 

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Carrefour's first Italian store modernised

Carrefour’s first Italian store modernised

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Carrefour to acquire Billa Romania from the Rewe group

Boulogne-Billancourt, 2015-12-23 — /EPR Retail News/ — Carrefour announces today an agreement to acquire Billa Romania from the Rewe group. Spread over the entire Romanian territory, the 86 supermarkets of Billa Romania have a total sales area of 83,000 square meters.

Through this acquisition, Carrefour would become the leading supermarket operator in Romania, strengthening its multiformat offer to better serve its clients.

The completion of this transaction remains subject to approval by the relevant antitrust authorities.

About Carrefour
Carrefour is the leading retailer in Europe and the second-largest retailer in the world, employing more than 380,000 people. With 12,000 stores in 35 countries, the group generated revenues of €100.5 billion under banners in 2014. As a multi-local, multi-format, and omni-channel retailer, Carrefour is a partner for daily life. Every day, it welcomes more than 12.5 million customers around the world.

A partner of COP21, Carrefour is committed through its daily actions to sustainable and responsible trade. The Group’s Corporate Social Responsibility approach is built on three pillars: fighting against waste in all its forms, protecting biodiversity and working alongside the company’s partners.

For more information: www.carrefour.com, @CarrefourGroup on Twitter

Group Communication Tel: +33 (0) 1 41 04 26 17
Investor Relations Tel: +33 (0) 1 41 04 28 83

SOURCE: Carrefour

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First Carrefour hypermarket opened in the Ivory Coast in Abidjan

Abidjan, Ivory Coast, 2015-12-23 — /EPR Retail News/ — Within the framework of the partnership between CFAO and Carrefour that was formalised in May 2013, the first Carrefour hypermarket has just opened in the Ivory Coast, in Abidjan.

It’s located in “PlaYce Marcory”, a brand-new 20,000 m² shopping centre. Designed and operated by CFAO, it features 3 separate areas: the Carrefour hypermarket with its 3200 m² sales area, a 55-store shopping centre and a food court with a seating area that can accommodate up to 400 people.

The hypermarket employs 510 people, practicing more than 100 different jobs. Carrefour’s teams were involved in the selection processes and will continue to manage the employees so that the relevant skills can be properly transferred. 16,000 hours of training delivered since April 2015.

The store has a very wide range (more than 30,000 items) and features national brands, Carrefour own-brand products and local products. The store also has a number of traditional sections – a butcher’s, a fish counter and a bakery/pastry section.

As far as equipment is concerned, the store minimises its environmental footprint by using LED lighting exclusively and closed ultra-fresh refrigeration units.

The Carrefour/CFAO partnership
This partnership began in May 2013 and involves a joint-venture company 55% of which is controlled by CFAO and the remaining 45% by Carrefour. The company operates supermarkets and hypermarkets in PlaYce shopping centres in eight countries throughout the region (Cameroon, Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Gabon, Ghana, Nigeria, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Senegal).

By entering into this agreement, CFAO – Africa’s leading retail group, and Carrefour – the world’s second-largest retail group, are providing consumers with all of Carrefour’s strength and the expertise of its central purchasing units, together with CFAO’s intimate knowledge of distribution channels in Africa.

This opening marks the first step in a major development plan involving CFAO, Carrefour and other partner brands that will be deployed over the next few years in eight African countries.
Carrefour stores located in PlaYce centres can be of a number of different formats: neighbourhood retailers, supermarkets or hypermarkets.

SOURCE: Carrefour

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First Carrefour hypermarket opened in the Ivory Coast in Abidjan

First Carrefour hypermarket opened in the Ivory Coast in Abidjan

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Nearly 80 percent of shoppers still have holiday shopping left – Walmart’s research

BENTONVILLE, Ark., 2015-12-23 — /EPR Retail News/ — Get ready for Star Wars, free shipping and savings. Nearly 80 percent of shoppers still have holiday shopping left, according to Walmart’s internal research. As customers cross off their lists, Walmart is ready with thousands of rollbacks on some of the most sought after toys, electronics and holiday foods, like Patti LaBelle’s Sweet Potato Pie. This Friday, Walmart will participate in National Free Shipping Day and add new Star Wars toys to thousands of items in its Star Wars collection.

“Searches for Star Wars toys have increased 200 percent on Walmart.com and we’ve tripled our assortment from the same period last year,” said Steve Breen, senior vice president of merchandising, Walmart.com. “We’re stocked up on Star Wars merchandise and other top gifts in our stores and online because one of the biggest frustrations for last minute shoppers is not being able to find the gift they want.”

Walmart.com offers free shipping on orders over $50, and on Friday it will eliminate the purchase minimum for free shipping*. Walmart also offers free pickup in stores as soon as the same day. Customers can order online for delivery as late as Dec. 22 for rush deliveries and as late as Dec. 23 at 6 p.m. local time for store pickup. Customers can also order until Dec. 20 with standard delivery, and some customers can get free value shipping as late Dec. 20, depending on the item and customer’s location.

Walmart stores will be open until 8 p.m. and Neighborhood Markets until 6 p.m. local time on Christmas Eve to help customers put the finishing touches on their holiday meals and grab last-minute gifts. Walmart is offering hundreds of stocking stuffers for under $10 and some of the most popular items, including in-demand toys like:

For more great gifts and information on shipping cut off dates, visit www.Walmart.com.

*May not apply to third-party sellers on the Walmart.com Marketplace.

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About Walmart
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) helps people around the world save money and live better – anytime and anywhere – in retail stores, online, and through their mobile devices. Each week, we serve nearly 260 million customers who visit our 11,504 stores under 65 banners in 28 countries and e-commerce websites in 11 countries. With fiscal year 2015 revenue of $486 billion, Walmart employs more than 2 million associates worldwide. Walmart continues to be a leader in sustainability, corporate philanthropy and employment opportunity. Additional information about Walmart can be found by visiting http://corporate.walmart.com on Facebook at http://facebook.com/walmart and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/walmart. Online merchandise sales are available at http://www.walmart.com and http://www.samsclub.com.

SOURCE: Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

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Saudi Automotive Services Company (SASCO) signs bank facility agreements (Shariah-compliant) with local banks

Retailing and Operation Division

Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, 2015-12-23 — /EPR Retail News/ — Saudi Automotive Services Company (SASCO) announces completion of signing of the Bank facility agreements (Shariah-compliant) with local Banks on 21 December 2015 against signed promissory note as follows:

  • Saudi Hollandi Bank- SHB (A Saudi Joint Stock Co.): the facility agreement amounting to 150 million includes a medium term loan amounting to SR 100 million for 54 months (Grace Period 18 months) scheduled to be settled in semiannual installments in addition to letters of guarantee amounting to SR 50 million.
  • Riyad Bank (A Saudi Joint Stock Co.): the facility agreement includes letters of guarantee amounting to SR 50 million.The reason lies behind this facility is to finance buying new locations, building new fuel stations and developing the existing stations as well as financing the working capital requirements.Knowing that there is no liability on the company if not used this facility.

Saudi Automotive Services Co. (SASCO)

Riyadh- Al-Ahsa Street
B.O. Box: 51880 Riyadh 11553
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Tel +966 11 206 8855 Fax +966 11 206 8833

SOURCE: Saudi Automotive Services Co. (SASCO)