Tesco opens its first subterranean store
The Metro store on London’s Tooley Street is all underground except for the entrance lobby, forming part of the 7 More London Riverside Development occupied by Pricewaterhouse Coopers. Large fans were used to ensure workers were protected from dust generated during the build process. They extracted fumes and dust from the store to the top of the building, seven storeys up.
Gatwick Airport retail income up by 5%
Retail income at Gatwick Airport has rise by 5% year-on-year to £67.7 million in the 6 months to 30 September 2011. The airport generated £35 million in income from duty, tax free and specialist stores compared to £33 million in the same period last year.
Starbucks plans to open drive-thru coffee outlets in expansion drive
Starbucks is preparing an expansion drive that will see it open more than 300 new outlets in the UK. The expansion will include more than 200 drive-thru stores opening in the next five years and the addition of 5,000 new staff. Starbucks hopes to become the market leader in drive-thru convenience coffee outlets. It currently has nine drive-thru outlets, the first of which opened in 2008.
Parents slashing budgets for Christmas presents
A Lightspeed Research report (conducted for Marketing Week) reveals that 32% of consumers will be looking at retailers’ deals to inspire gift ideas for children - the same percentage who will use what children ask for to determine their purchases.
In-store Google Maps to revolutionise shopping experience
A new tool was released by Google Maps this week, allowing consumers in the US to navigate their way around airports, retail stores and shopping malls. Shoppers using the tool can search store layouts on their mobiles, and it is expected that more retailers will sign up to use the technology following the initial roll-out.
Greene King celebrates record half-year profits Greene King has announced record sales and profits for the past six months, aided by a rise in volumes for its brewing business. The maker of Abbot Ale and Old Speckled Hen said profits at its brewing arm were up 4% in the 24 weeks to 16 October, as volumes grew by 2% over the period. Pre-tax profits across the business were up almost 6% to £77.2m, with sales up 9% to £527.5m as 35 pubs were added to its retail estate.
M&S is ‘ahead’ of Plan A targets M&S claims it is ahead of schedule in meeting the targets set out in its Plan A sustainability programme, achieving 60% of the commitments it aimed to fulfil by 2015. The retailer says that 105 of the 180 commitments have been met. It originally targeted 100 by 2012.
Day of Strikes creates retail surge
Shoppers took advantage of Wednesday's day of strikes to hit the high street and start their Christmas shopping in earnest, giving the ailing retail sector a much needed boost.Northern shoppers were particularly active. In the north-east, Dalton Park, the region's largest outlet shopping centre, enjoyed a three-fold (296%) increase in shoppers compared with the same day last year, and a 45% rise compared with last Wednesday.
Kraft Foods World Travel Retail reveals new shopper insight tools The ‘Insight into Action’ video and the ‘Cash Till Advisor Application’ are designed to help KFWTR and its retail partners discover how they can turn shopping into “a delightful experience” for travellers. Latest research has shown that 58% of these passengers travel a maximum of three times per year, mostly on holiday.
