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Retail

This Month

Woolworths has been slashing prices.

Woolworths sales growth picks up but Big W is a massive worry

While the nation’s biggest grocery retailer enjoyed a 3.2 per cent sales bump, losses at its variety chain are now almost double its initial estimate.

Woolworths chief executive Amanda Bardwell is in the middle of a strategic review of the group.

Did Minecraft just kick-start Woolworths’ turnaround?

Kids’ collectables may seem a lark to many investors. But Woolworths’ campaign has given it a hint of something it’s sorely lacked for some time: momentum. 

April

Aldi is paying billions in dividends to its parent group Hofer KG in Austria.

Aldi shows its discount appeal with sharp rise in profit

The German discount supermarket chain has paid out billions of dollars in dividends to its parent group Hofer KG in Austria.

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, left, and Kash Patel, FBI director nominee, look on after the 60th Presidential Inauguration in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (Chip Somodevilla/Pool Photo via AP)

Trump calls Bezos after reports Amazon would show tariff charges on its site

The retailer spent a chaotic morning denying a report that it planned to display prices showing the tariffs’ impact on Amazon.com.

Jayne Hrdlicka will take over as chief executive of Endeavour, which owns Dan Murphy’s and BWS, next year.

New Endeavour chief Jayne Hrdlicka finds backers in Mathieson, Wylie

The former Virgin Australia managing director will have to stare down restive investors when she takes over at the Dan Murphy’s and BWS owner next year.

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Former Virgin boss Jayne Hrdlicka will be serving drinks – albeit in a completely different capacity.

Jayne ‘Hard Liquor’ has a big job ahead at drinks empire

Jayne Hrdlicka is jumping from one fix-up job at Virgin to the next at Endeavour, and she’s going to have to put some noses out of joint – again.

Elise Honeybrook, co-owner of Valentinas, in Marrickville, Sydney.

Why do cafes charge extra on holidays? Baristas get $70 an hour

Hospitality owners have slammed Anthony Albanese as out of touch for suggesting they can stay open on weekends and holidays without adding surcharges.

Inside an Armaguard coin processing facility. The use of notes and coins has slumped over the last decade.

Big banks draft in Barrenjoey as they consider Armaguard’s future

The banking lobby needs strategic advice on how the Linfox-owned cash transport business could be funded.

The outlook for the luxury sector remains bleak globally as weak trading conditions cripple margins at high-end retailers.

Cettire slumps to first loss in three years, further pain expected

Shares in the luxury platform tumbled more than 17 per cent after earnings were crushed by discounting and weak demand.

Cue Clothing owns its own label and Veronika Maine. It is now under new ownership, having been acquired by Britain’s Hilco Capital this month.

Cue Clothing poaches next chief executive from Country Road

Melanie Remai is the latest departure from the South African-owned fashion house. Her appointment comes weeks after British investors took control of Cue.

Chinese investors acquired Brownes Dairy at a time of rapid expansion into Australia’s dairy industry.

Brownes Dairy to be sold after Chinese backers call in $200m loan

One of the country’s oldest dairy companies, the largest milk producer in Western Australia, is on the market through McGrathNicol.

Baby Bunting CEO Mark Teperson.

Baby Bunting’s novel solution to conquer parents’ indecision

The country’s largest nursery goods retailer says its research shows shoppers are mired by indecision. It is reworking its shops in the hope of boosting sales.

Trump’s abrupt cancellation of the so-called de minimis rule, which allowed packages valued under $US800 to enter the US duty-free is bad news for Shein.

Shein’s Australian sales top $1b in online fast-fashion surge

Revenues at the Singapore-headquartered ultra-cheap goods retailer soar 25 per cent over the last year as local rivals struggle in a cost-of-living crunch.

Richard Wallis has been appointed Flynn Group’s president for the Asia-Pacific region.

Pizza Hut, Wendy’s recruits new boss as it targets mega expansion

Flynn Group, one of the world’s biggest operators of fast-food restaurants, has appointed former KFC executive Richard Wallis to run its regional business.

Wittner, known for its quality boots and shoes, has been placed into voluntary administration.

Wittner the latest retailer to hit the wall, calling in administrators

The shoe company was founded in 1912 and had more than 20 stores and 25 concessions in Myer and David Jones. But costs have risen as sales have struggled, it said.

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Nick Mowbray

NZ toy billionaire says prices to double in trade war

Nick Mowbray built his fortune from a network of toy factories in China. Now tariffs have “paralysed” his company Zuru Group that sells to Walmart and Target.

Shoe boss Daniel Agostinelli will roll out at least 50 Sports Direct stores over the next six years.

British sports giant launches aggressive push to take on Rebel

British retail giant Frasers is opening its Sports Direct chain in Australia in a tie-up with Accent Group, where it is now the biggest shareholder.

Ryan Baker is the chief operating officer of Bunnings. He sees a big opportunity in auto parts.

Can engine oil be Bunnings’ next big break? Auto rivals hope not

The Wesfarmers-owned hardware giant has already expanded into pet care and cleaning. Now it sees a $1.5 billion opportunity too good to pass up.

Aldi does not have any stores in Tasmania. The Greens want it to open to boost competition and help lower grocery prices.

Greens flag $30m to lure Aldi to Tasmania

As part of an election pitch, the Greens are seeking to lure the discount supermarket chain to the Apple Isle to help boost competition and lower grocery bills.

A Gianni Versace store in the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele shopping mall in Milan.

Versace’s ‘quiet luxury’ blunder opened door to Prada takeover

Fashion executive John Idol sold the high-end fashion house to its rival for $2.2 billion, amounting to a loss of about $1.1 billion.

Original URL: https://www.afr.com/topic/retail-61a