Retail News CRM

Tag: asia

  • KFC aims to have 500 outlets by year end

    KFC aims to have 500 outlets by year end

    American quick-service restaurant (QSR) brand KFC plans to become the largest QSR chain in the country and expects to have over 500 outlets by end-2015.

    The company has just launched its “Flaming Crunch Chicken,” which has been spiced using the ‘BhutJolokia’ chilli grown in Assam.

    Talking about expansion, Dhruv Kaul, Chief Marketing Officer, KFC India, said: “We have aggressive plans. It’s our ambition to become the number one QSR chain in the country by next year. We target having over 500 outlets by 2015.”

    Kaul said despite softer consumer sentiment, the company is continuing to open new stores, not only in cities where it is already present but also in new cities. KFC India has over 300 restaurants across 81 cities, which are a mix of franchisee and company-run outlets.

    “Last year was challenging for the industry, but we are confident about 2015. We hope to see an uptick in the economic environment and are well-positioned to leverage it,” added Kaul.

    Vegetarian menu

    Last year, the company expanded its vegetarian menu and it has kick-started this year by introducing a spicier version of its chicken offering. Kaul said: “We have seen a new trend emerging, where our consumers prefer a more intense, spicy experience in their food, After scouting for chillies from around the world, we narrowed down on “BhutJolokia” from Assam. We will continue to focus on introducing products that are rooted in consumer insights.”

    This year, the company will also focus on growing its online ordering facility as an incremental channel for sales. “Last year, we scaled up home delivery significantly across our outlets. Also, without any big push, we have seen growth in online ordering. Stores that offer home delivery are seeing over a quarter of orders coming through the online channel. This year, we will give a big thrust to grow the online ordering,” Kaul added.

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  • Uniqlo under fire for buying supplies from unsafe factories

    Uniqlo under fire for buying supplies from unsafe factories

    Japanese clothing giant Uniqlo came under fire yesterday for buying supplies from Chinese factories accused of putting workers at risk in unsafe conditions, with sewage on the floor, extremely high temperatures and poor ventilation.

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  • External investors to finance Wanda Plazas

    External investors to finance Wanda Plazas

    China’s Dalian Wanda Commercial Properties Co said on Wednesday four investors have agreed to contribute CNY24 billion yuan (USD3.9 billion) over the coming two years as the first tranche of funding to build around 20 shopping malls.

  • Citizen Card to facilitate online shopping in Myanmar

    Citizen Card to facilitate online shopping in Myanmar

    A citizen card launched by payment services provider 2C2P and Myanmar Citizens Bank is expected to support e-commerce in Myanmar.

    The reloadable prepaid card is accepted by MasterCard merchants and comes with an optional smartphone application that allows cardholders to manage transactions in real time.

    “Targeted at the retail, and travel and tourism sectors, Citizen Card will facilitate both physical and online shopping. It will also be of use to Myanmar tourists when they travel overseas, as consumers can enjoy special benefits and privileges at destinations such as Thailand and Singapore, with a number of partner merchants in the airline, food and beverage and hospitality sectors,” said.

    Initially, supply of the Citizen Card will be limited to 5,000 units but plans are underway for options to roll out more within the year.

    According to McKinsey & Co, Myanmar is expected to quadruple the size of its economy from USD45 billion to over USD200 billion by 2030, with per capita GDP rising from USD1,300 in 2010 to USD5,100 by 2030.

    “Building on this momentum, we are pleased to partner with 2C2P and launch MCB’s very first prepaid card, which will help support the imminent growth in Myanmar e-commerce,” said U Myint Win, Managing Director of Myanmar Citizens Bank.

    2C2P has also introduced in Myanmar iACCEPT, a mobile point-of-sales system with Visa, MasterCard, Myanmar Citizens Bank and Myanmar Hotels International. In July, 2C2P partnered with Creative Web Studios, a Yangon-based e-commerce solutions provider, working to drive financial inclusion and develop Myanmar’s contactless payment infrastructure.

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  • Richemont Group reports declining sales in Asia-Pacific

    Richemont Group reports declining sales in Asia-Pacific

    World’s second largest luxury conglomerate, Swiss based Richemont Group reports flat sales at constant exchange rates (sales increased at 4 percent at actual rates) in the quarter to 31 December 2014. Growth in Europe/Middle East and the Americas was offset by a significant decline in Asia-Pacific. Overall, third quarter trading was below the first six months of the year.

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  • Microsoft partners with Alibaba to enhance IP protection for its products

    Microsoft partners with Alibaba to enhance IP protection for its products

    An agreement between Microsoft (China) and Alibaba Group Holding Limited (Alibaba Group) is expected to enhance the protection of Microsoft’s intellectual property rights (IPR) on the two most popular e-commerce platforms in China operated by Alibaba – Taobao Marketplace and Tmall.com.

    The cooperation is also expected to strengthen anti-counterfeit measures already in place on both platforms.

    Both sides said they will work to raise awareness among consumers about the threats posed by counterfeit and unlicensed software to their information security, privacy and personal data.

    Tim Cranton, Microsoft’s Associate General Counsel and Greater China Region’s Chief Legal Counsel, said legitimate businesses and innovators in China will also benefit from a safer and more robust e-commerce marketplace with safeguards to protect intellectual property rights.

    Under the agreement, Taobao and Tmall will remove product listings suspected of offering counterfeit or unlicensed Microsoft products. Alibaba Group and its associated companies like Alipay will cooperate with relevant parties and provide necessary information to those consumers who mistakenly buy unauthorized software to receive compensation from the sellers according to relevant laws.

    Microsoft’s cooperation with Alibaba Group dates back to April 2007 when Microsoft signed a memorandum of understanding with Alisoft as the two parties joined hands in providing information service for small- and medium-sized businesses.

    In December 2013, Microsoft launched its flagship online store on Tmall.com, the largest e-commerce platform in China with to promote genuine Microsoft software.

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  • Burberry warns fall in HK sales could impact its full-year margin

    Burberry warns fall in HK sales could impact its full-year margin

    British luxury brand Burberry warned on Wednesday that a fall in sales in the key market of Hong Kong in the last quarter of 2014 could impact its full-year margin. Pro-democracy protests began choking parts of the Asia financial center in late September, disrupting business in one of the world’s top markets for luxury companies, which accounts for about USD9.7 billion of global luxury sales, or 4 percent of the total, according to estimates by Bernstein Research.

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  • Walmart India head likely to meet Sitharaman

    Walmart India head likely to meet Sitharaman

    Under pressure from the US, the government might again be compelled to review the foreign direct investment (FDI) policy in multi-brand retail trading (MBRT). At the forefront is American retail giant Walmart, demonstrating a renewed interest in entering India’s fast growing retail market, estimated at USD600 billion. Currently, Walmart operates 20 cash-and-carry or wholesale stores in the country, for which there’s no foreign investment cap.

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  • Prada opens third KL store

    Prada opens third KL store

    Prada recently opened its third store at The Gardens Mall in Kuala, Lumpur. Designed by architect Roberto Baciocchi, store covers a total area of approximately 390 square metres on a single level and houses the women’s and men’s leather goods, accessories and footwear collections as well as the men’s ready-to-wear collection.

    The area dedicated to the women’s collections has the signature black-and-white marble chequered flooring and green fabric-clad walls with polished steel display counters covered in coloured saffiano leather and green velvet sofas.

    Meanwhile, the space devoted to men discloses masculine materials and finishes. The first room, dedicated to leather goods and accessories, features black marble-clad walls with elegant polished steel display cases.

  • Australian retail sales miss expectations in November

    Australian retail sales miss expectations in November

    Soggy November sales figures have increased the scrutiny on Christmas trade for Australia’s struggling retail sector as lagging consumer confidence weighs on spending. Official retail sales released on Friday for November came in softer than expected, inching up just 0.1 per cent over the month, but retailers hope that Christmas and Boxing Day sales will have boosted December numbers.

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  • Starhill Global REIT sells prime Tokyo retail property for $29.9m

    Starhill Global REIT sells prime Tokyo retail property for $29.9m

    Proceeds will be used to pay off Yen loans.

    Starhill Global REIT has divested Roppongi Terzo, a prime retail property located in Tokyo, for $29.9m.

    This is above the property’s last valuation of $29.2m, and the sale consideration translates to a yield of 4.4%.

    After the transaction, the REIT’s portfolio in Japan will be reduced to four properties.

    The net sale proceeds would be used to repay the Yen loans and/or for working capital purposes. SGREIT’s gearing is expected to decrease from 35.7%3 to 35.1% assuming that the net sales proceeds are substantially used to repay the Yen loans

  • foodpanda partners with HSBC in HK, Southeast Asia

    foodpanda partners with HSBC in HK, Southeast Asia

    Online food delivery service foodpanda is partnering with HSBC in Hong Kong and Southeast Asia.

    Customers and cardholders in eight Southeast Asian countries – Hong Kong, Vietnam, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, Philippines, and India – will benefit from the partnership through discounts.

    In the first quarter of 2015, cardholders will get 25 percent off on all orders, and will enjoy HKD50 off on their first order for the rest of the year; subsequent orders will be discounted 10 percent for standard cardholders, and 15 percent for Premium cardholders.

    food panda has nearly nearly 500 restaurants in the region and offers the largest variety of restaurants and cuisines of any food delivery service in Hong Kong.

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  • Alibaba to invest about USD575m in Indian online-shopping service, Paytm

    Alibaba to invest about USD575m in Indian online-shopping service, Paytm

    Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. and its financial-services affiliate have agreed to jointly invest about USD575 million in India’s One97 Communications Ltd.’s online-payment and marketplace businesses, a person familiar with the matter said.

  • Berlin Jucker’s Metro deal stalls

    Berlin Jucker’s Metro deal stalls

    An attempt by Berli Jucker Plc (BJC) to buy Metro Group’s cash-and-carry unit in Vietnam was aborted on Thursday after its shareholders voted unanimously to reject the EUR655-million (USD775.7 million) deal.

  • Starbucks COO Alstead takes leave from company

    Starbucks COO Alstead takes leave from company

    Starbucks Coffee Company chief operating officer Troy Alstead is taking an extended unpaid leave from the company.

    “Looking back on the 23 years we spent together side-by-side as Starbucks colleagues, I can recall so many memorable moments and accomplishments in which Troy can take pride in a job well done,” said Starbucks chairman, president and chief executive officer Howard Schultz.

    Lasted is a 23-year veteran of the company who also served for many years as the company’s chief financial officer, as well as leading the operations and development of Starbucks international business and its Europe, Middle East and Africa business unit.

    His last day in his current role will be 1 March 2015.

    “Troy is a beloved Starbucks partner and has played an invaluable role in our growth as an enterprise and in the development of our culture as a performance-driven company balanced with humanity, which is unique for our industry. Troy’s humanity and humility will be missed and we wish him the best,” Schultz added.

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