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Category: General

Retail News Asia is committed to providing both local and global retailers with the latest General Retail news throughout the Asian market. This on a daily base.

  • Hong Kong Gifts and Premium Fair celebrates 40th edition

    Hong Kong Gifts and Premium Fair celebrates 40th edition

    The Hong Kong Trade Development Council is set to unveil the seven LifeStyle Trade Events, covering gifts, houseware, fashion, printing and packaging, and licensing.

    These events will take place from April 27 to 30 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. With the latest products and trends on display under one roof, the events will feature a curated selection of lifestyle products and services from around the world, maximising and diversifying buyers’ sourcing in one go.

    Hong Kong Gifts & Premium Fair

    Of the seven events, the Hong Kong Gifts & Premium Fair is the longest-running and will celebrate its 40th edition this year. The highly acclaimed Hall of Fine Designs will return as a convergence of reputed brands. Key brands include Monnaie de Paris of France, the government-owned institution responsible for producing France’s coins, and Camel from Hong Kong, which creates vacuum flasks and has gained popularity among young creatives in recent years.

    The Hong Kong Exporters’ Association will assemble Hong Kong companies to form a pavilion, showcasing the design skills and branding excellence of Hong Kong’s product designers. Winning works from the Hong Kong Smart Design Awards will be on display to highlight the creativity and flair of Hong Kong brands to global industry players.

    Home InStyle

    Home InStyle will continue to foster connections and inspire the design and lifestyle community. The acclaimed Cultural and Creative Corner is set to be upgraded to a Cultural and Creative Avenue, engaging international design influencers and designer brands infused with unique design concepts and cultural heritage. Pantone, the trendsetter in colour, will again join us as our colour partner to showcase the 2025 Fall/Winter and 2026 Spring/Summer colour trends.

    The Industrial Designers Society of Hong Kong will once again present its renowned Remix project, aimed at fostering business collaboration between design professionals and premium brands. The Czech brands Artiseme and Cockerel and Pigmentarium will participate in the Cultural and Creative Avenue for the first time, showcasing distinctive Bohemian crystal, handmade glassware, room fragrances, and incense. Meanwhile, Aomori and Tottori Prefectures from Japan will highlight their regional culture and craft products, including Inshu Washi, ceramics, rattan works, and folk toys.

    In response to the rapid growth of the silver economy, Home InStyle will debut the Gerontech Living Pavilion, featuring a range of innovative products and design concepts from over 10 local companies. In addition, the pavilion will host seminar sessions, along with interactive elements and guided tours, offering visitors a unique and engaging experience.

    Seminars to discuss emerging trends

    During the fair period, a series of seminars and forums will be conducted, featuring industry representatives who will share valuable insights on key trends and future prospects within the industry, including creative thinking, the silver economy, and sustainability. These events are designed to enhance communication between exhibitors and buyers, while also equipping participants with the latest market information. By serving as a one-stop sourcing platform, the events will offer promising business opportunities and cater to the needs of buyers for a diverse selection of lifestyle products and services.

    Digital platform creates an efficient exhibition experience

    Under the Exhibition+ model, the fairs integrate offline and online elements. Buyers can continue searching for products and services on the hktdc.com Sourcing platform and network through the Click2Match smart business-matching platform. During the physical fair, buyers can use the Scan2Match function of the HKTDC Marketplace App to scan exhibitors’ exclusive QR codes, bookmark favourite suppliers, browse product information and continue discussions with exhibitors online during or after the show.

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  • API launches online B2B hub for pharmacies to source products

    API launches online B2B hub for pharmacies to source products

    Australian Pharmaceutical Industries (API) has launched an online B2B hub – MyAPI – for its wholesale pharmacy customers.

    API is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Wesfarmers Health and has more than 4000 wholesale pharmacy customers.

    According to the company, the platform offers “enhanced functionality and an elevated experience,” allowing pharmacies to research products, place orders, identify stock on hand, obtain pricing and deals, and manage their accounts.

    It also facilitates stock returns, backorder management, houses key documents and provides customer support and communications.

    “By investing in technology like MyAPI, we’re ensuring pharmacy owners have 24/7 access to critical products and essential information at their fingertips,” said Doug Swan, executive GM of wholesale and pharmacy services at Wesfarmers Health.

    “This means more convenience and flexibility, and empowers them to serve their communities with confidence knowing they have what patients need, when they need it.”

    In addition to the main features, the e-hub also supports compliance with Community Service Obligations for pharmaceutical wholesalers, including the timely delivery of Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme items within 24 hours.

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  • Costco and DoorDash to deliver groceries to the doors of Aucklanders

    Costco and DoorDash to deliver groceries to the doors of Aucklanders

    Costco has teamed up with DoorDash to deliver its range of groceries and household essentials to homes in Auckland at bulk-saving rates.

    The partnership will enable Costco members and non-members to get everything from toilet paper to fresh fruits and vegetables or premium poultry and meat delivered to their homes.

    “We’re always looking for ways to make everyday shopping easier, and our partnership with Costco means Aucklanders can now get incredible value and quality delivered straight to their doorstep,” said DoorDash New Zealand GM Bradley Thomas.

    To launch the new partnership, New Zealand customers will receive NZ$20 off their first Costco order when they spend $150 or more.

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  • Aldi ranked Australia’s top supermarket for fifth consecutive year

    Aldi ranked Australia’s top supermarket for fifth consecutive year

    For the fifth time in a row, Aldi has been named Supermarket of the Year 2024 in Roy Morgan’s Customer Satisfaction Awards.

    The supermarket has won this title eight times. The ratings are calculated from an annual survey of 60,000 Australians and cover 40 industry categories.

    “With the rising cost of living, we know many Aussie families are feeling the pinch,” said Simon Padovani-Ginies, group director of Aldi Australia. “That’s why we’re more focused than ever on keeping grocery prices low and making every dollar count. Our entire business model is based on saving people money while making sure only the best products make it onto our shelves.”

    “As well as delivering a dependably high level of customer satisfaction to millions of Australians Aldi is also recognised by Roy Morgan as one of Australia’s top five most trusted brands – a position Aldi has held consistently over the last five years despite the challenges faced by the sector in an era of high inflation and rising interest rates,” said Roy Morgan CEO Michele Levine.

    She said Aldi had a perfect record of winning all 12 monthly customer satisfaction awards during 2024 with an average customer satisfaction rating of “an exceptional” 88.8 percent.

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  • Vietnam discovers 12 mines containing over 10 tons of gold

    Vietnam discovers 12 mines containing over 10 tons of gold

    A major gold discovery in central Vietnam has revealed 12 mines containing over 10 tons of gold and 16 tons of silver, according to the Mid-Central Geological Division.

    The discoveries were made following geological investigations across 32 areas with gold ore potential.

    Vietnamese authorities have identified around 500 gold-bearing locations nationwide. Of these, 30 sites have undergone detailed surveys, revealing an estimated total of 300 tons of gold reserves. Most of these deposits are concentrated in mountainous areas of northern Vietnam and several central provinces.

    Starting in 2025, the Department of Geology and Minerals has been launching a new project to evaluate mineral potential in central Vietnam, focusing on localities like Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh and Phu Yen provinces.

    Another mineral survey project, initiated in 2017, led to the recent discovery of 40 gold mines with total estimated reserves of nearly 30 tons.

  • WhatsApp’s most comprehensive update arrives today

    WhatsApp’s most comprehensive update arrives today

    WhatsApp receives new updates quite often, but many times developers don’t really reveal what’s been added to the app. That usually happens because the changes are minor or not significant enough to warrant a changelog.

    Today’s update, or better say changelog, is very different to what we’re used to. WhatsApp has just announced its first “feature roundup,” a comprehensive and informative list of new features and improvements that the app received recently.

    While these might not necessarily be rolled out today, they might have been part of very recent updates that not everyone received yet. That said, let’s take a deep dive into what’s coming and what’s already been added to WhatsApp recently.

    Most of the changes announced today revolve around conversations, chats, and Channels, so let’s start with the first on the list. First off, WhatsApp now features an “online” indicator in group chats, allowing users to see how many people are “Online” in real-time, right under the group name.

    Secondly, WhatsApp has added the ability to highlight notifications in groups. It’s an easy way to prioritize group chat notifications by using a new “Notify for” setting and selecting “Highlights” to limit notifications for @mentions, replies, and messages from saved contacts or “All” to receive all notifications.

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  • Singapore retail sales plunge in February

    Singapore retail sales plunge in February

    Singapore retail sales took a dive in February due to the difference in timing of the Chinese New Year.

    Excluding motor vehicles, retail sales fell 6.7 percent year-on-year in February, reversing the 5.1 percent increase in January. The estimated total value was SG$3.2 billion (US$2.3 billion), of which 14.6 percent were from online sales.

    The Department of Statistics said the decline was partly due to Chinese New Year being celebrated in February last year, as opposed to January this year.

    For the two-month period (January to February), retail sales were down 0.5 per cent.

    By industry, wearing apparel and footwear recorded the biggest sales decline of 18.4 percent, mainly due to lower sales of wearing apparel. Department stores and supermarkets and hypermarkets saw a 14.6 percent and 13.3 percent decrease, respectively.

    In contrast, retailers of optical goods and books recorded sales growth of 6.4 percent. The cosmetics, toiletries and medical goods, watches and jewellery, and computer and telecommunications equipment industries also reported modest improvements.

    Sales of food & beverage services fell 5.6 percent in February, compared to the 10.3 percent growth in January. This was also due to the difference in the timing of Chinese New Year.

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  • Vietnam eyes to begin high-speed rail construction in 2026

    Vietnam eyes to begin high-speed rail construction in 2026

    Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has ordered the Ministry of Construction to expedite procedures to commence construction of the North-South high-speed railway project by the end of next year.

    According to a government release on Saturday, the PM wants the bidding mechanism completed this month so the National Assembly can review it for approval next month.

    This would push the construction date one year earlier than the original plan.

    The railway, one of Vietnam’s most ambitious transportation projects in this decade, was approved for investment by the National Assembly in November last year with a preliminary cost of approximately VND1.7 quadrillion (US$67 billion).

    The 1,541-km route will start at in Hanoi and end in Ho Chi Minh City, passing through 20 localities.

    It will be designed for speeds of up to 350 kilometers per hour. It includes 23 passenger stations and 5 freight stations.

    The government also eyes to start building the Lao Cai – Hanoi – Lang Son railway in December. It will be a key project linking the capital with China-bordering provinces.

    Concerning another northern rail project, Lao Cai – Hanoi – Hai Phong, officials are set to negotiate with their Chinese counterparts next month and a loan agreement is expected to be signed in November.

    The government has also tasked Hanoi and HCMC with reviewing their plans to build and acquire loans for more metro routes.

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  • Bangkok declares end of disaster situation

    Bangkok declares end of disaster situation

    The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Command Center has issued an official announcement, stating that the disaster situation in the metropolitan area caused by an earthquake has now ended.

    All areas in the city are no longer disaster zonas, except for the area around the construction site of the new State Audit Office (SAO) building on Kamphaeng Phet 2 Road, Chatuchak district, the statement said on April 3.

    The center stated that although the overall disaster situation in Bangkok has returned to normal, search and rescue operations are still ongoing at the collapsed building. Officials from various agencies, including rescue workers, structural engineers, and medical teams, are continuing rescue efforts using modern equipment and technology to minimize risks to the personnel involved.

    The center explained that the operation area has been divided into zones, with task forces mobilized to search for those who may still be trapped inside. Drones are being used to survey from above, and special equipment is being employed to detect life signs.

    Additionally, a team of experts specializing in rescue operations in collapsed areas has been deployed to assist in the mission.

    The BMA urged the public to refrain from approaching the construction site to ensure safety and avoid hindering the work of the rescue teams. The public is also advised to closely follow updates from the relevant authorities and adhere to official guidance.

    Individuals affected or with relevant information can contact the appropriate agencies for assistance, the BMA added.

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  • Samsonite reopens at Hong Kong’s IFC mall with pop-up cafe concept

    Samsonite reopens at Hong Kong’s IFC mall with pop-up cafe concept

    Samsonite has reopened its flagship store at Hong Kong’s IFC Mall with the launch of a limited-time pop-up cafe.

    Running until April 20, the Samsonite Cafe offers visitors a curated space to explore the brand’s sustainability initiatives in a lifestyle-driven setting.

    The cafe aims to complement the newly renovated outlet, which showcases the brand’s first dedicated sustainability-led design.

    As part of the activation, customers can enjoy complimentary coffee by registering as a Samsonite member at the pop-up store, or with any purchase made at the Samsonite IFC Mall store upon registering. Lifetime, Black, Platinum, and Gold Club members are eligible for complimentary coffee without any purchase.

    Constructed using FSC-certified plywood and low-emission gypsum board, the store features display podiums and wall panels made from repurposed luggage shell edges and leftover backpack fabric.

    To further lower its carbon footprint, more than 75 per cent of the renovation waste was sorted for recycling and processed by certified partners.

    The store also incorporates motion-sensor LED lighting and enhanced air quality systems in line with global retail standards.

    “Our inaugural sustainability concept at IFC Mall underscores our commitment to eco-friendly practices,” the company said.

    “This approach exemplifies our belief that sustainability can redefine the retail experience and transform the lifestyle bag and luggage industry.”

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  • United Airlines expands Asia network with new flights to Vietnam, Thailand, Philippines

    United Airlines expands Asia network with new flights to Vietnam, Thailand, Philippines

    The United Airlines plans to add daily flights to Vietnam and Thailand in October, further expanding the network for the U.S.-based carrier that already has the most Asia service, reported CNBC.

    In the expansion, its airplanes from Los Angeles and San Francisco that are headed for Hong Kong will then go on to the two new destinations: Thailand’s Bangkok and Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City, with service set to begin on Oct. 26.

    On Oct. 25, United Airlines plans to add a second daily nonstop flight from San Francisco to Manila, the Philippines, and on Dec. 11, it will launch nonstops from San Francisco to Adelaide, Australia, which will operate three days a week.

    The news site noted that the carrier has been adding far-flung destinations not served by rivals to its routes, like Nuuk, Greenland, and Bilbao, Spain, which will start later this year. Getting the mix right is especially important as carriers seek to grow their lucrative loyalty programs and need attractive destinations to keep customers spending.

  • Amazon’s last-second bid to buy TikTok is not being taken seriously

    Amazon’s last-second bid to buy TikTok is not being taken seriously

    By law, short-form video app TikTok has until this Saturday, April 5th, to be divested by its current owner ByteDance, or else face banishment in the U.S. The legislation requires ByteDance to find a buyer for the popular app that is not a Chinese company. TikTok has been accused of stealing users’ personal data, and disseminating propaganda from China and the Chinese Communist Party to U.S. viewers.

    It looks like an American company, as American as Apple Pie, has thrown a last-second bid for TikTok into the ring. An unnamed U.S. administration official said today that Amazon has made a bid to acquire TikTok, which had about 1.5 billion monthly active users early this year. Last week, Reuters reported that private equity firm Blackstone was looking at joining a group made up of TikTok’s non-Chinese stockholders Susquehanna International Group and General Atlantic to bid for the app.

    Another U.S. company believed to be interested in buying TikTok from ByteDance is Oracle. The firm is already involved with TikTok as it is designated as the app’s “trusted technology provider” in the U.S. and its servers are used to store the personal data of U.S. TikTok users.

    The New York Times reported today that Amazon’s bid for TikTok came in the form of a letter sent from the company to Vice President JD Vance and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. However, the Times story says that various parties are not taking Amazon’s bid seriously. The value of Amazon’s bid as well as those of competing bids are unknown. The online retailer had previously attempted to copy TikTok by launching a similar feature inside its app called Inspire. However, Inspire was considered a failure and was removed from the Amazon app earlier this year.

    Meanwhile, President Donald Trump is reportedly hosting a meeting in the Oval Office on Wednesday to discuss TikTok and the possible suitors for the app. You might recall that in 2020 during Trump’s first term, he tried to broker the sale of TikTok to American firms that showed interest including Oracle, Walmart, and Microsoft. This time, there is legislation involved as a bill to ban TikTok in the U.S. was signed by then-President Joe Biden last April.

    The bill forced ByteDance to divest its holdings in TikTok by January 19th or get banned in the U.S. President Trump signed an executive order on January 20th, his inauguration day, that prevents the Justice Department from taking action against TikTok until the April 5th deadline.

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  • Microsoft is changing how your Windows laptop tells you it’s crashing

    Microsoft is changing how your Windows laptop tells you it’s crashing

    Microsoft is shaking things up with some new changes to Windows and while some are aimed at making your experience smoother and faster, others, like the removal of the option to set up a new PC without signing in with a Microsoft Account, might ruffle the feathers of Windows 11 users who prefer a bit more freedom. And there is another change that might not sit well with everyone.

    Microsoft has announced it is revamping the infamous Blue Screen of Death (BSOD). The classic blue background, frowning face and QR code are gone, replaced by a simpler error screen in black.

    However, it is still unclear whether the black screen will stick around in the final update or if it will eventually turn green, as users on the beta, dev and canary channels are seeing the test builds with a green background instead. Time will tell, but one thing’s for sure – BSOD is getting a makeover.

    We’re previewing a new, more streamlined UI for unexpected restarts which better aligns with Windows 11 design principles and supports our goal of getting users back into productivity as fast as possible. We’ve simplified your experience while preserving the technical information on the screen. As a reminder, for Windows Insiders this appears as a “green screen”.

    This marks the biggest change to the BSOD since Microsoft first added the sad face back in Windows 8. The redesigned error screen still shows the faulty driver or error message but keeps things simple with just a “your device ran into a problem and needs to restart” message.

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  • China Airlines partners with Chunghwa Telecom Laboratories on new roadmap to develop airline AI applications

    China Airlines partners with Chunghwa Telecom Laboratories on new roadmap to develop airline AI applications

    China Airlines (CAL), a Taiwan-based carrier, has strategically positioned itself for the future by signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) this month with Chunghwa Telecom Laboratories (CHTTL) to expand the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology resources. The two companies will share their respective industry applications and R&D technology to co-develop an integrated AI development and management platform. This strategic move will not only make services more accessible to travelers but also define a new roadmap for AI development in the airline industry.

    As the first airline to form such a partnership with CHTTL, CAL will focus on enhancing the AI service experience and strengthening corporate management of on-premises AI applications. The incorporation of “AI interactive voice response” functionality with customer service chatbots into the CAL website will provide travelers with additional answers to their inquiries, enhancing their overall experience. “Customer conservation analytics” performed by generative AI will analyze and categorize questions in audio files in real time to help customer service staff track common traveler questions with great precision. The data can also be used to improve internal education and training as well as enhance the productivity and quality of customer service.$

    For internal enterprise management, CAL will combine AI “forecasting and early warning applications” with big data to accurately predict the number and weight of luggage on each flight. The information can be used to maximize the utilization of belly cargo space on passenger flights and cargo hold space on freighter flights, which promises savings for the workforce. At the same time, the two companies will co-develop a “Smart Generative AI Platform” that uses machine learning model management and the construction of large language models (LLM) to accelerate the scaling and deployment of AI operations. The platform will also assist businesses with more effective management of on-premises AI applications and shorten model development time.

    Research and development of telecommunications and information-communications technologies have always been the focus of CHTTL. The Labs have played a key role in defining international standards and industrial innovation as well. Current fields of research include the core technologies for broadband networking, mobile networking, AI, and information security. CHTTL has already developed numerous AI applications for enterprise use, including AI customer service chatbots, AI voice assistances, and the customer sentiment analysis platform (DeepVoice). These solutions have been recognized by the Taiwan Excellence Awards, National Brand Yushan Awards, and other top awards, demonstrating the quality and innovation of CHTTL’s work. The latest partnership will lead to new milestones in the use of smart AI technology in the Taiwanese airline industry.

    CAL continues to promote innovative services by incorporating the latest AI applications into its traveler experience and into internal management to boost team productivity. In 2024, CAL became the first Taiwanese carrier to receive the award for Best AI System Application Team at the Customer Service Excellence Awards (CSEA). CAL will continue to track the latest developments in the AI industry and collaborate with leading external organizations to build strategic partnerships that will accelerate AI development and boost international competitiveness through smart airline AI services.

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  • Bangkok quake death toll rises to 17

    Bangkok quake death toll rises to 17

    The death toll in Bangkok from a massive earthquake that hit Myanmar and Thailand rose to 17 on Sunday, city authorities said.

    The Bangkok Metropolitan Authority said 32 people were injured and 83 still unaccounted for — most from the site of a 30-story tower block under construction that collapsed when the magnitude 7.7 quake struck Friday.

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