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European Retail Briefing - February 2020

ANALYST COMMENT: GENDER-FLUIDITY CONTINUES TO GAIN STRENGTH, ESPECIALLY IN THE WORLD IN FASHION
What we've seen
Equipment launches its first gender-fluid collection in 2020
London welcomed its first gender-fluid fashion store in 2019
Recent gender-neutrality initiatives in fashion
What it means
EUROPEAN RETAIL SALES
Key points
Figure 1: Major European economies:  Year-on-year retail sales value growth, 2018-20
Figure 2: Major European economies:  Year-on-year retail sales volume growth, 2018-20
Inflation
Figure 3: Major European economies:  All items CPI, 2018-20
Figure 4: Major European economies:  Food price inflation, 2018-20
LAUNCH ACTIVITY AND INNOVATIONS
Belgium: Lidl launches own-label vegan burgers and minced meat
France: Carrefour buys fruit and veg delivery start-up to expand ecommerce food offer
Netherlands: Jumbo to extend meal delivery service to Utrecht and Amsterdam
HEADLINES FOR THE MONTH
Grocers
Clothing retailing
DIY retailing
Online shopping
NEWS ANALYSIS – FOOD AND DRINK
 CONVENIENCE STORES
UK: Spar celebrates festive sales
 GROCERS
France: Aldi reveals its first TV advertisement with new slogan
France: Auchan announces voluntary departure plan cutting 517 jobs in France
France: Carrefour reveals ‘Healthy Prices’ campaign
France: Système U sees strong sales from supermarkets
Netherlands: Albert Heijn set to double home delivery capacity with two new sites
Netherlands: Jumbo scraps disposable displays for smarter and reusable alternatives
Spain: Store remodelling proves uplifting for Eroski in the Balearic Islands
Spain: Lidl Spain rolls out new ready-to-eat private label
Sweden: December sales for ICA Gruppen rise
UK: Asda
…to offer ‘food-for-now’ offerings
…reveals plans for first ‘sustainability store’
UK: Booths own-brand boosts Christmas sales
UK: Iceland is to reduce plastic packaging on fresh food by 93% in new trial
UK: Morrisons to cut 3,000 department manager roles
UK: Sainsbury’s
…commits £1bn to meet net zero pledge
…CEO steps down followed by hundreds of management roles to be cut
UK: Tesco removes plastic from multipacks as it continues to cut down on waste
 OTHER FOOD SPECIALISTS
UK: ‘Inefficiencies’ in the supply chain leave a slightly bitter aftertaste for Hotel Chocolat
UK: Online sales help boost trading at Holland & Barrett over Christmas
NEWS ANALYSIS – CLOTHING AND FOOTWEAR
 CLOTHING RETAILING
France: LVMH hails deals with Stella McCartney and Tiffany & Co in full year results
France: Premium French label Equipment launches gender-fluid SS 2020 collection
Switzerland: Richemont sees growth across all markets except Japan
UK: BRC announces new vegan guidelines for fashion retailers
UK: Matalan Christmas sales inch up despite ‘depressed’ consumer confidence
UK: Reiss festive sales rise as owner seeks out buyer
UK: Disappointing festive performance from Quiz after slashing ties with Zalando
UK: French Connection sale withdrawn as it fails to find a buyer
UK: Joules blames later fall of Black Friday for decline in half-year profits
UK: Luxury brand Bernadette launches first handbag range for Spring 2020
UK: Mint Velvet sees revenues rise but investments in operations hit profits
UK: Moss Bros sales fall amid ‘challenging’ marketplace
UK: New strategy drives Christmas boost for Crew Clothing
UK: Primark
…steals market share as sales increase
…kicks off first sports collaboration with Lotto
UK: Seasalt sales up despite a ‘tough and challenging market’
UK: Ted Baker’s overstatement of £58m in stock revealed to be ‘materially higher’
UK: The Cambridge Satchel Company opens new Oxford store
NEWS ANALYSIS – MIXED GOODS
UK: Pep&Co clothing boosts sales during festive period
 MULTI-SECTOR RETAILING
UK: Halfords maintains profit guidance after ‘solid’ festive sales
 DEPARTMENT STORES
UK: Beales
…at a breaking point after disappointing Christmas
…collapses and risks over 1,000 jobs
UK: Frasers Group acquires stake in Mulberry to ‘elevate’ its retail proposition
UK: Fenwick to rent out part of London flagship to provide a further stream of revenue
UK: John Lewis trials augmented reality sofa
UK: Multi-channel strategy does the trick for Fortnum & Mason
NEWS ANALYSIS – HOUSEHOLD GOODS
 DIY RETAILING
France: Bricomarché, Bricorama and Brico Cash sees revenues reach €3.59 billion in 2019
UK: Ryman and Robert Dyas sees profit rise in full-year results
UK: Wickes sales rise and owner Travis Perkins prepares for its departure
 ELECTRICAL RETAILING
UK: Dixons Carphone
…Christmas sales offset by downturn in mobile phone sales
…reissues Christmas trading figures stating sales went down not up
 FURNITURE RETAILING
UK: Beter Beds bounces back after successful divestment of Matratzen Concord
UK: DFS sees sales decline but expects a more positive outlook
UK: IKEA
…expands home assembly service to more sites
…to close Coventry site risking 352 jobs
UK: ScS announces rise in festive sales and the retirement of CEO David Knight
NEWS ANALYSIS – ONLINE 
Germany: Zooplus thanks loyal customers as it reports a 14% rise in revenues
UK: An encouraging start to the New Year for Asos thanks to strong ‘customer momentum’
UK: Boohoo US and Europe sales star performers during Christmas
UK: Engagement with Sosander’s product range contributes to a record Christmas
UK: Eve Sleep cuts losses and focuses on long-term profitability
UK: N Brown blames profit warning on ‘highly promotional market’
UK: Net-a-Porter expands sustainability offer
UK: Shop Direct
…officially rebrands to The Very Group
…The Very Group expands premium beauty offer to its flagship brand Very.co.uk
…celebrates a very merry Christmas
NEWS ANALYSIS – OTHER RETAIL
 HEALTH & BEAUTY RETAILING
Italy: Colgate brings first recyclable toothpaste to Italy
UK: Glossier’s London pop-up will be extended after successful reception from customers
UK: Next phase of Boots beauty reformation kicks off with launch of Huda Beauty
UK: Online growth bolsters Christmas sales for The Fragrance Shop
UK: Space NK profits down after store expansion
 BOOK AND STATIONERY RETAILING
UK: Christmas sales at WHSmith boosted by acquisitions from its travel division
 SHOPPING CENTRES
UK: Intu
…Lakeside boosts visitors moods with pop-up lighthouses
…seeks urgent cash injection
…sells Spanish shopping centre for £245.15 million
UK: Pop-up retail property specialist Boxpark sees revenues rise
 GARDEN CENTRES
UK: Dobbies sales soar during 'strong' Christmas trading period
 TOYS AND GAMES RETAILING
UK: Hobbycraft Christmas sales grow as customers look for ‘greener’ ways to celebrate
UK: The Entertainer set to tap into the Indian market with new partnership
 MISCELLANEOUS SPECIALIST RETAILING
UK: Dog-grooming services bolster Christmas sales for Pets at Home
UK: Gear4Music celebrates growing Christmas profits
NEWS ANALYSIS – ECONOMY
UK: Retail sales for December up 3.4%

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