Wine will be Morrisons’ first category to be
sold online. The supermarket confirmed it will use
Kiddicare’s eCommerce technology platform to
provide the foundation for the first online offer, Morrisons
Cellar, while orders will be fulfilled from its distribution
centre in Peterborough. Morrisons acquired online retailer
Kiddicare in 2011. In March 2012 it acquired 10 former
Best Buy stores, with plans to convert them into
Kiddicare showrooms and extend the online retailer’s multichannel
reach. The first of these new stores, allowing customers to try
products from Kiddicare’s range of nursery and babycare equipment
before buying, is due to open later this month, with two more
stores to open by the end of 2012 and a further seven scheduled
for 2013. In related news, Morrisons released a better than
expected trading statement this week. Profit before tax in the
half year to 29th July was £440 million, a 2 per cent decline
on last year’s £449 million, but still at the top end of
analysts’ forecasts.
Electricals retailer Dixons delivered an
encouraging start to the year with total sales up 2 per cent and
like-for like sales up 5 per cent in the first quarter to 21st
July. The company experienced growth in the UK, Ireland and
northern European territories, but sales declined in the Southern
Europe division, which includes Italy, Greece and Turkey.
While JJB continues to struggle, rival
Sports Direct storms ahead with “sports
retail” sales in the 13 weeks ending 29th July up 19.9
per cent to £441.4 million and sports retail gross profit up
14.8 per cent to £179.2 million. Sports Direct also grew its
“premium lifestyle” division during the period-sales
were £28.8 million, compared with £3.8 million during
the same time last year. At the “brands” department,
revenue increased by 15.4 per cent to £48.8 million.
The Independent reports that jeweller
Theo Fennell is in talks to be taken over by
private-equity house EME. According to the piece, EME has until
close of play on 3rd October to make a firm offer or walk
away.
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