Tag: asia

  • Liquor samplers take maintain in Korea

    Liquor samplers take maintain in Korea

    Like selecting cosmetics after utilizing a pattern, a brand new development is rising of liquor samplers in Korea’s eating places and bars.

    Based on the business, Baesangmyun Brewery, a standard Korean rice wine maker, presents 4 sorts of Sluggish Metropolis Brewery Makgeolli within the sampler course at its Sluggish Metropolis Brewery & Pub eating places. Sluggish Metropolis Makgeolli, a hand-made Korean conventional rice wine, can have 4 totally different tastes by various the extent of getting old or maturation.

    For many who can’t select what to drink for his or her makgeolli, the restaurant presents free samples of the 4 tastes and lets the client select their very own.

    A buyer on the restaurant stated: “This place is superb as we will watch the brewery course of with our personal eyes and choose the makgeolli we would like after sampling numerous sorts.”

    Soju samplers are additionally gaining in reputation, as it may be a burden to order high-quality soju by the bottle.

    Aoi Sora, a standard soju pub in Itaewon, Seoul, is promoting a sampler for soju-lovers. It presents two soju samplers with 4 soju manufacturers every at 15,000 gained (US$13.70) and 16,000 gained (US$14.60).

    As well as, craft beers at the moment are promoting in samplers. As they’re brewed in several methods, a beer sampler could be one of the best match for beer-lovers who need to attempt numerous tastes in beer.

    An government at Baesangmyun Brewery stated: “Liquor and beverage samplers are a pure improvement to satisfy the varied tastes of consumers. The samplers have acquired good response from first time guests and youthful clients who are usually not acquainted with makgeolli, notably ladies.”

  • Esquires Espresso seals Hunan partnership

    Esquires Espresso seals Hunan partnership

    New Zealand-listed Cooks International Meals has signed a three way partnership settlement with Shenzhen-listed retail and property big BuBuGao Group to develop 30 Esquires Espresso shops in Hunan by 2020.

    The three way partnership cements China’s place as Esquires Espresso’s quickest rising worldwide territory and lifts the whole variety of deliberate shops within the nation to a minimum of 150. It additionally additional advances Cooks’ aspiration for Esquires Espresso to be working 800 shops all over the world by 2020.

    * BBG chairman Wang Tian (left) and Esquires Espresso China MD Ellen Zhang toast their new China three way partnership.

    BBG, or Higher Life, has taken a 49 per cent stake within the three way partnership and can progressively contribute property in its buying malls which might be based within the Hunan province. Cooks, with a 51 per cent stake within the enterprise by way of its wholly-owned Chinese language grasp franchisee Beijing Esquires Administration Co, will develop and handle the shops.

    BBG has annual revenues of almost CNY12.three billion, (NZ$2.7 billion), employs over 70,000 individuals and operates over 373 shops within the Hunan, Jiangxi, Sichuan, Chongqing, Guangxi, and Guizhou provinces, together with 156 supermarkets and 29 purchasing malls. It additionally has a CNY10 billion property portfolio and is lively in on-line commerce and finance.

    Cooks International Meals government chairman Keith Jackson stated the brand new deal is additional endorsement of the potential for Esquires Espresso’s artisan fashion Natural and Fairtrade model to develop quickly in Chinese language markets.

    The enterprise is a continuation of our technique to drive progress in China by partnering with vital home companies that may present the assets, retail experience and native information which are pre-requisites for fulfillment within the area. These capabilities, coupled with a Chinese language Esquires Espresso administration staff that understands the right way to translate the model’s distinctive tackle New Zealand café tradition into home settings, provides us nice confidence within the potential of the enterprise to develop.”

    BBG chairman Tian Wang stated that with demand for branded espresso rising in China at charges that outstrip progress charges in the remainder of the world, Esquires Espresso will fill an essential a part of the retail combine throughout its buying centres.

    Its Natural, Fairtrade and artisan positioning makes it an aspirational vacation spot for a broad cross part of the inhabitants. We’re assured the brand new enterprise will generate appreciable worth for the BuBuGao group.”

    Cooks now operates 21 shops in China using 130 individuals, making it the third largest New Zealand non-Authorities employer within the Peoples’ Republic. It’s now concentrating on a footprint of greater than 150 shops in China by 2020.

    Earlier this yr, Cooks acquired the Esquires Espresso Chinese language grasp franchisee Beijing Esquires Administration and as a part of that transaction, one of many former house owners, Yunnan Metropolitan Funding Firm (YMCI) took a 15.75 per cent stake in Cooks.

    Cooks additionally has an identical three way partnership with Jiajiayue Group (JJY) grocery store chain to develop 50 shops within the Shandong province. JJY is among the largest corporations in Shandong, using virtually 30,000 employees and working greater than 550 supermarkets.

    We proceed to hunt companions to increase our foot print in different areas and our administration group, led by expatriate Chinese language-New Zealander Ellen Zhang, is already in dialogue with a number of different events,” Jackson stated.

    Cooks owns the mental property and grasp franchising rights to Esquires Espresso Homes worldwide excluding New Zealand and Australia. Following the signing of a brand new grasp franchise settlement for Egypt final week, the corporate is now rising in 13 separate territories around the globe and it’s in discussions to increase its grasp franchise community additional.

  • GIC takes Seoul mall stake

    GIC takes Seoul mall stake

    Singapore funding firm GIC has partnered with the Canada Pension Plan Funding Board to purchase the D-Dice Retail Mall in Seoul, South Korea from Daesung Industries.

    The 2 buyers has paid US$263 million for the mall.

    GIC and CPPIB will every personal an equal half share in D-Dice, a 4 yr previous centre described as a top quality property in a chief location. D-Dice is situated subsequent to Sindorim Station, a serious transportation hub connecting Seoul with Incheon and different main metropolitan cities close to Seoul.

    The mall can be rebranded as Hyundai Division retailer and might be operated by Hyundai, one of many prime retail operators in South Korea. Working alongside GIC and CPPIB, Hyundai will reposition the D-Dice Retail Mall to raised serve the Korean retail market’s anticipated regular progress over the long run.

    Loh Wai Keong, MD & co-head Asia, with GIC Actual Property stated the funding displays GIC’s confidence within the long-term progress of Korean home demand and is in keeping with GIC’s technique of buying high-quality, centrally-located belongings with upside potential.

    “As a long-term worth investor, our pursuits are aligned with CPPIB and we sit up for partnering them on this acquisition.”

    Jimmy Phua, MD, head of actual property investments Asia, with CPPIB stated the D-Dice Retail Mall is a main retail asset situated in a rising and prosperous space.

    “By way of this funding, we’re happy to realize publicity to one of many largest retail markets in Asia, working alongside skilled and aligned companions.”

  • UK’s John Lewis opens today in Makati

    UK’s John Lewis opens today in Makati

    John Lewis, a chain of quality department stores operating through out Great Britain, will open its first shop-in-shop in the Philippines at SM Makati today. The chain is part of the John Lewis Partnership, and is known for its slogan “Never Knowingly Undersold.”

    John Lewis Partnership is UK’s largest example of worker co-ownership where all 30,000 staff are Partners in the business. On the other hand, Never Knowingly Undersold is the company’s unique policy to its customers that the price of any item it sells will always be as low as the lowest price in the neighborhood. It has been in use since 1925.

    A wide range of own-brand home products including bed, bath, tableware, and home accessories, such as candles and photo frames, will be on offer in a dedicated John Lewis Department at SM Home in SM Makati’s Fifth Level.

    The shop-in-shop here in the Philippines will have a wide range of own-brand home products like tableware and kitchen furniture

    This will be the first of the 11 John Lewis shop-in-shops in SM Retail locations across the Philippines—SM Makati, SM Aura Premier, SM Megamall, SM Mall of Asia, SM North EDSA, SM Southmall in the Metro area, and SM Cebu and SM Lanang in the provincial areas; as well as three Our Home stores. The sites will be between 300 square feet and 1,000 square feet and will have a dedicated staff.

    “SM Retail is a perfect partner to help bring the John Lewis brand to a new Asian customer base,” declares Andy Street, managing director at John Lewis.

    Meanwhile, British Ambassador to the Philippines Asif Ahmad says in a message,“I would like to congratulate SM for successfully bringing John Lewis to the Philippines,” says. In the UK, John Lewis is known as a top retailer and has a reputation for offering excellent value to customers for many years. We are delighted to have another iconic brand that will bring the experience of British quality, creativity, and lifestyle to the Filipino home.”

    The first John Lewis store opened in 1864 in Oxford Street, London. Today, it operates 43 John Lewis stores across the UK and runs a shopping website at johnlewis.com.

  • 7-Eleven Philippines gross sales soar

    7-Eleven Philippines gross sales soar

    Philippine Seven Company, the native licensee of 7-Eleven Comfort Shops, has reported a 12.9 per cent progress in internet revenue for the primary quarter of 2015.

    The corporate says the rise is the results of improved working margin and its aggressive 7-Eleven Philippines retailer enlargement program throughout the nation.

    The community of firm owned and franchised shops’ gross sales rose by 24.2 per cent from P4.four billion (US$98.9 million) within the first quarter to 2014 P5.5 billion (US$123.6 million) within the newest quarter. First quarter internet revenue reached P112.9 million ($2.5 million).

    On the finish of the quarter, PSC had constructed its community to 1341 shops – a rise of 292 year-on-year.

    The corporate stated the speed of earnings progress was slower than top-line progress because of the elevated spending attributed to increasing the logistics infrastructure of the corporate. PSC has been constructing the capability of its distribution middle to help its enlargement within the totally different elements of the nation, together with the islands within the Visayas and in DavaoCity.

    Jose Victor Paterno, president and CEO, stated PSC has taken steps to guard and broaden its management in mild of elevated competitors, recognising that rewards for market share are particularly robust within the comfort retailer sector.

    “This includes not solely an elevated tempo of enlargement in areas contested by competitors, however strategic entry into new territories. The latter could also be unprofitable for the primary few years because of the excessive fastened prices of logistics, however we consider will later be rewarded with robust first mover benefits,” he stated.

    “Final yr we entered Panay and constructed on our entry into Negros and Cebu the years prior. This yr we will probably be getting into Mindanao by way of Davao and Cagayan de Oro.”

    For 2015, the corporate might be growing its capital expenditures price range by greater than 50 per cent to help its accelerated retailer enlargement technique.

    Philippine Seven Company operates the most important comfort retailer community within the nation. It acquired from Southland Company (now Seven Eleven Inc.) of Dallas, Texas the license to function 7-Eleven Philippines shops in December 1982 and listed on the Philippine Inventory Trade in February, 1998.

  • Singapore retail gross sales slide three.2 per cent

    Singapore retail gross sales slide three.2 per cent

    Singapore retail gross sales in March slumped three.2 per cent after the distortionary impact of motorcar gross sales is faraway from the info.

    Whereas the official figures present a seasonally-adjusted 1.1 per cent enchancment in March 2015 over the earlier month, knowledge from Statistics Singapore exhibits automotive gross sales soared 37 per cent over February and 40 per cent March on March.

    There was an similar three.2 per cent general decline year-on-year for March after automobiles have been eliminated.

    Seasonally adjusted gross sales of meals & beverage providers decreased 5.2 per cent in March 2015 over February and by 1.7 per cent in contrast with March 2014.

    After seasonal adjustment, retail gross sales of automobiles, mini-marts & comfort shops and meals & drinks elevated between 12.9 per cent and 37.1 per cent in March 2015 in comparison with the earlier month (Desk 1). Retail gross sales of petrol service stations and leisure items additionally rose four.9 per cent and 1.1 per cent respectively.

    Then again, retail gross sales of optical items & books, sporting attire & footwear, telecommunications equipment & computer systems, furnishings & family gear, supermarkets, watches & jewelry and medical items & toiletries decreased between 2.four per cent and 10.four per cent in March 2015 in comparison with February 2015.

  • Sephora, JD.com staff up

    Sephora, JD.com staff up

    LVMH-owned cosmetics retailer Sephora has opened a flagship retailer on Chinese language eCommerce website JD.com.

    Sephora, which already as a profitable retail community in tier one Mainland China cities, says the transfer wil assist it break into the eCommerce market there, and attain shoppers in smaller city markets.

    “This marks a big step ahead for Sephora, the main magnificence retailer of LVMH Group, in its eCommerce and general retail technique for China,” the 2 corporations stated in a press release.

    Upon launch, Sephora’s retailer would be the largest cosmetics retailer on JD.com’s platform, that includes over 1200 gadgets from greater than 70 worldwide beauty manufacturers, together with Dior, Guerlain, Givenchy, Profit and Kenzoki.

    Anne Veronique Bruel, president of Sephora Asia, stated she is assured that Sephora, JD.com will have the ability to present Chinese language shoppers with “a very world-class on-line purchasing expertise, with out the fear of counterfeits”.

    Haoyu Shen, CEO of JD Mall added: “We’re capable of supply Sephora an end-to-end eCommerce answer that ensures Chinese language shoppers have the absolute best model expertise when buying their magnificence merchandise on-line. Our direct co-operation with Sephora additional strengthens the arrogance of cosmetics buyers in China that JD.com is the go-to website for probably the most wanted genuine name-brand merchandise.”

    Sephora, based in Limoges, France, in 1969, was purchased by luxurious group LVMH in 1997.At the moment, it has greater than 2000 shops in 32 nations stocking greater than 200 worldwide manufacturers and 10,000 of its personal distinctive personal label merchandise.

  • Indonesia`s red onion production predicted to reach 1.14 million tons

    Indonesia`s red onion production predicted to reach 1.14 million tons

    The agriculture ministry said the countrys production of red onion is predicted to reach 120,000 tons a month or 1.14 million tons this year. The production fell from 122,000 tons a month in 2014, but still is higher than domestic requirement.

    Horticulture Director General Hasanuddin Ibrahim said the production will exceed domestic consumption of around 90,000 tons a month.

    “In the period of January to September this year, the production is predicted to rise 20 to 30 percent, but October to December, the production is expected to fall by the same rate of 20 to 30 percent,” Hasanuddin said.

    The countrys red onion production is expected to peak in June at 122,800 tons. The second highest was 116,300 tons in January and the third highest was 110,900 tons in August, he said.

    The lowest production was expected in March at 65,270 tons , November at 81,010 tons and in October at 83,850 tons.

    “The production is not level from month to month depending on the season. The production falls in rainy season but surges in dry season,” he said.

    In rainy attacks by season plant disease on red onion are more wide spread, he said. He said red onion plantations totaled 119,966 hectares in 2014. In 2015, red onion would be grown in 27 of the countrys 34 provinces.

  • Maisen Tonkatsu heads to Philippines

    Maisen Tonkatsu heads to Philippines

    Maisen Tonkatsu, described as Japan’s “greatest tonkatsu restaurant”, is to open a sequence of eating places within the Philippines.

    The primary restaurant, described as a flagship, will open at SM Megamall by the third quarter of 2015.

    Maisen Tonkatsu, based in 1965, will increase into the Philippines underneath Katsucuisine Inc, a subsidiary of its Japanese father or mother Suyen Company.

    Thought-about the market chief in its class in Tokyo, the restaurant model is steadily increasing in Asia. It has six branches in Bangkok, Thailand, a part of a community now numbering 1100 worldwide.

    Foodies and vacationers alike typically queue outdoors the Tokyo eating places whose profile has been boosted by in depth reward on social media and by skilled reviewers.

    The restaurant’s positioning slogan is: “Tender tonkatsu you’ll be able to minimize with chopsticks.”

  • Razer Taiwan opens gaming retailer idea

    Razer Taiwan opens gaming retailer idea

    US-based digital video games big Razer has opened a singular flagship retailer in Taiwan’s capital metropolis, Taipei.

    Razer was created by CEO and Min-Liang Tan, a Singaporean, and specialises in merchandise marketed particularly to players. The Razer model is presently being marketed underneath Razer US.

    Within the new Taipei retailer, which opened final Friday, players can attempt the corporate’s distinctive units together with excessive finish pc mice designed for on-line video games, keyboards and different equipment.

    Centrestage are the Razer Edge pill, a handheld pc operating Home windows eight optimised to game-playing – and a purpose-built PC unveiled finally yr’s Shopper Electronics Present in Las Vegas.

    The opening was celebrated on-line with a minisite – #TWRazerStore (in Chinese language language) and weblog and social media postings in English. Most of the firm’s US administration flew to Taiwan for the opening.

  • Personal label saving Korean retailers

    Personal label saving Korean retailers

    As South Korea’s giant retailers are affected by damaging progress, personal manufacturers (PB), or personal labels (PL) are providing a ray of sunshine to Korean retailers.

    Gross sales of personal branded items have elevated 20 to 30 per cent within the first quarter in comparison with the identical interval final yr.

    PB items are often 20 to 30 per cent cheaper than different model items, and as they’re turning into more and more widespread, extra clients are constructing belief in sure manufacturers.

    Gross sales of Residence Plus PB items within the first quarter elevated 21 per cent, whereas gross sales of all items mixed solely elevated zero.9 per cent. PB merchandise now account for 28.four per cent of Residence Plus merchandise.

    Gross sales of PL items additionally elevated 15.four perc ent at E-Mart, whose administration report their  1.1 per cent gross sales improve within the first quarter – the primary year-on-year constructive progress price in 13 quarters – was because of the reputation of PB items.

    Gross sales of PB items on the CU comfort chain additionally elevated 7.6 per cent for the primary quarter in 2013, 9.1 per cent in 2014 and 22.eight per cent for a similar interval this yr. Gross sales of such items at 7-Eleven elevated a record-high 34.eight per cent.

    A person with information of Lotte Mart’s operations stated that though there was some distrust in personal manufacturers up to now, nowadays they’re among the many best items, as they’re produced by well-known producers.

    CU stated that it will give attention to creating private hygiene PB items sooner or later, because it has been solely creating snack PB items up to now.

    House Plus additionally stated that it will improve PB manufacturing, saying that as greater than 90 per cent of PB producers are SMEs, the present growth might additionally end in a constructive synergy impact on them.

  • Singapore franchise axed by Milan Station

    Singapore franchise axed by Milan Station

    Milan Station has terminated the settlement with its Singapore franchisee M C Holdings.

    In a voluntary replace disclosure to the Hong Kong Inventory Change this week, Milan Station says the corporate additionally negotiated the top of consignment gross sales at concession counters at Hong Kong’s 4 cruises.

    The posh bag and equipment retailer stated the rationale for the terminations of the franchise and concessions is that retail gross sales of luxurious items remained stagnant.

    “The termination of the Concession Settlement and the Franchise Settlement shall allow to group to pay attention its useful resource on the extra worthwhile working arms of the group,” Milan Station stated in its replace.

    “The group will assess the market situation repeatedly and can think about re-launching the concession and franchise enterprise when the market outlook turns to be promising in future.”

    The Singapore franchise settlement dates again to June 2013. The 2 events have agreed that half of the safety deposit of S$180,000 shall be deducted by the franchisor as compensation for inconvenience incurred, with the stability to be repaid. Unsold inventory shall be returned to Milan Station.

    The Hong Kong firm says the concession enterprise underneath the Concession Agreements accounted for about 1.eight per cent of the group’s income within the yr to December 31.

    The Singapore franchise enterprise accounted for about two per cent of group income.

    “The Board considers that the termination of the Concession Settlement and the Franchise Settlement has no materials impression on the prevailing enterprise operation and monetary place of the group.”

  • Chow Tai Fook takes on landlords

    Chow Tai Fook takes on landlords

    Hong Kong jeweller Chow Tai Fook is flexing its muscle in a softening retail rental market, in search of lease cuts of as much as 20 per cent.

    The listed firm says some 30 leases throughout the territory will come up for renewal later this yr and the corporate will probably be in search of reductions within the wake of a difficult retail market which has seen gross sales plunge in some luxurious classes.

    In an interview revealed on Bloomberg on-line, MD Kent Wong stated the corporate has already been granted reductions of between 10 per cent and 20 per cent in renewal negotiations this yr, however he didn’t reveal the variety of leases concerned.

    He advised Bloomberg that circumstances in 2015 are “very particular”.

    “We’re demand pushed; we anticipate we will have a 20 per cent rental discount.”

    Chow Tai Fook has reported a fall in same-store gross sales in Hong Kong and Macau of 26 per cent within the first quarter of this yr – the fifth consecutive quarterly fall.

    Wong stated his firm might shut some shops this yr – singling out its Peak outlet for instance.

    The jeweller has 90 shops in Hong Kong, interesting largely to Mainland Chinese language vacationers. However customer numbers from China have been falling, and people nonetheless coming are much less prosperous than the standard guests of previous years. These with larger disposable incomes have began travelling additional afield, many spooked by the Occupy Central protests of the second half of final yr.

    The mainland authorities’s clampdown on present giving has additionally affected gross sales of upper priced luxurious items in Hong Kong.

    Regardless of a lower in complete retail gross sales of two.three per cent in Hong Kong in the course of the first three months of 2015, Wong expects a restoration later within the yr.

    “The market basically wants six months to at least one yr to restructure the product combine catering to the altering style of consumers,” he advised Bloomberg.

    “We stay optimistic about Hong Kong within the mid- to long-term.”

  • Parkson Retail grows regardless of Vietnam drag

    Parkson Retail grows regardless of Vietnam drag

    Listed division retailer operator Parkson Retail Asia has reported a 5.5 per cent year-on-year improve in internet revenue for the third quarter.

    Within the three months to March 31, Parkson posted a revenue of S$7.98 million.

    The corporate attributed the development to elevated gross sales in its Malaysia department shops the place shoppers have been shopping for items prematurely of the introduction of GST on April 1.

    The development got here regardless of a discount in similar retailer gross sales from the corporate’s Vietnam operations, which proceed to wrestle and now faces elevated competitors from the arrival of M&S and the Thailand Central Group’s Robins department shops in the important thing Ho Chi Minh Metropolis and Hanoi markets.

    Gross sales within the Indonesia and Myanmar shops each improved.

    Complete gross sales income for the group rose 9.2 per cent to S$116.58 million.

    CEO Toh Peng Koon stated the corporate expects a decline in Malaysia gross sales following the GST implementation, however expects that can be buffered by the beginning of the pre-Hari Raya festive shopping for season in the direction of the top of June.

    He stated he expects Indonesia and Myanmar to conitnue to ship encouraging outcomes, however warned Vietnam remained a difficult market.

  • AirAsia X cuts frequency to optimise capacity

    AirAsia X cuts frequency to optimise capacity

    AirAsia X Bhd (AAX), the long-haul, low cost airline affiliate of the AirAsia Bhd flew a total of 914,970 passengers in the first quarter, down 15% from 1.08 million passengers in the same quarter in 2014.

    According to AAX’s preliminary operating statistics released yesterday, the carrier recorded a load factor of 74% for the first quarter ended March 31, down 12 percentage points from a year ago.

    AAX said it had implemented frequency cut on certain routes, mainly China and Australia, and concurrently terminated loss-making routes – Adelaide and Nagoya – to optimise capacity in line with its turnaround strategy.

    It said the excess capacity from capacity management had been re-deployed to short-term wet lease and charter operations, to maximise revenue.

    AAX said its passenger traffic, as measured by revenue-passenger-KM (RPK), declined 17% year-on-year to 4,431 million in the first quarter from 5.34 billion in the same quarter last year, while available-seat-KM (ASK) capacity decreased by 3% to 6.02 billion.

    This was due to capacity management and slowdown in marketing activities during the first three months of this year with respect to the QZ 8501 incident in December 2014.

    “Consequently, year-on-year load factor during the quarter dropped 12 percentage points to 74% against 86% in the same period last year.

    “Current bookings trends are in line with expectations for a recovery in the second half of 2015,” the carrier said.

    In terms of fleet movement, AirAsia took deliveries of two A330-300s on operating lease during the quarter, bringing its total number of A330-300s to 25, compared with 19 a year earlier.

    On the associate companies, Thai AirAsia X registered strong loads of 82% for its first quarter, with 155,961 passengers carried, implying continued positive pick-up for the popular routes between Thailand, Japan, and South Korea.

    Thai AirAsia X currently operates 3 A330-300s while Indonesia AirAsia X has two A330-300s serving Bali-Taipei and Bali-Melbourne respectively.