News brief

China. Starbucks is aiming for 600 openings in 2021
Starbucks (33,000 locations worldwide) is planning 600 openings in China in 2021. It will focus in particular on “walk-thru” locations, which allow customers to collect their orders...
22 January 2021
Walmart wants to develop Made in India
The American giant wants to triple its exports of products made in India to US$10 billion a year by 2027. Today, India is already one of Walmart’s main markets for products such as jewellery...
22 January 2021
PELOTON, THE CONCEPT OF THE MONTH
United States. Home-use anchored bike specialist Peloton is “Retailer of the Year” according to Forbes magazine. As consumers flock to Internet-connected bikes and treadmills to...
22 January 2021
Inditex. Fewer stores, bigger impact
By the end of January, Inditex will have closed all its physical stores under Bershka, Pull & Bear and Stradivarius banner in China. A year ago, these 3 brands had 162 stores in China. Their...
22 January 2021
Lagardère. A store whose offer changes morning and evening?
Lagardère Travel Retail Group wants to test a store in Parisian train stations whose offer will be adapted to the commuting movements of travellers. On the programme: pastries and hot...
22 January 2021
To sell on Veepee rather than Vinted?
Veepee, European leader in private sales (operating in 8 countries, 4 to 5 million visitors per day) wants to offer an alternative to the Lithuanian platform Vinted (34 million members in 2020...
22 January 2021
Food. Organic attracts investment
Organic products have been one of the big winners of 2020, both in the U.S. and in Europe. Whilst Nordic countries and Switzerland remain the most advanced markets in terms of organic per capita...
22 January 2021
Auchan chooses a family management structure
Alexandre Mulliez, (aged 34) is the grandson of Gérard Mulliez, a founder of Auchan Group. He is now Vice President of Auchan – France. Graduating from EM Lyon in 2010, his first...
21 January 2021
Couche-Tard: France blocks €16.1 billion bid for Carrefour
The Canadian Couche-Tard‘s offer of €20 per Carrefour share was rejected by the French government, citing food security and employment issues. Carrefour, whose share price has fallen to...
21 January 2021
Ikea. The end of the mandatory customer path?
Recent results say a lot about smart strategies from Ikea, which managed to limit Covid-19 losses last year (retail turnover of €35.2 billion, down by 4%). At the beginning of January 2021...
21 January 2021
Japan. Starbucks launches a coffee co-working business
Catering. Charging customers to reserve a seat? That’s the bet the American giant is taking in Tokyo with a new type of facility in high-traffic areas. Starbucks’ very first...
21 January 2021
Canada. Lululemon, winner in the health crisis?
The Canadian brand Lululemon Athletica specialises in yoga outfits (turnover of US$4 billion in 2019, 43% from e-commerce in the last quarter) is defying the gloom of the Covid-19 crisis, and...
21 January 2021
LVMH. Mr de Lapuente takes charge of retail
From January 2021, Mr. Chris de Lapuente will be C.E.O. of the selective distribution branch of LVMH. Already running Sephora (2,600 stores) for more than 10 years, de Lapuente previously had Le...
9 December 2020
From Kiko to Euronics
Massimo Dell’Acqua (aged 51) takes over as C.E.O. of Euronics Italia (turnover of €2.4 billion in 2019). Dell’Acqua is a very experienced expert of retail and digital...
9 December 2020
Simon Property. Brick & mortar serving e-commerce returns
As the Christmas holiday approaches within a context of increasing online orders, the American property company Simon Property and Narvar, a major player in customer engagement on the Internet...
9 December 2020
Under the leadership of Niel – Bressler, URW may soon exit from the U.S.
After buying Westfield in 2018 for €20.4 billion, URW could change its strategic direction, at a time when Mr Cuvillier is leaving his position as President. Léon Bressler, former boss...
9 December 2020
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Most viewed articles of the month on mind Retail
What readers clicked on the most last month.
What readers clicked on the most last month.
1
Electronic labels: Hanshow accelerates breakthrough and signs with a leading British retailer
While the leader in electronic labels, Vusion exceeded €1.47 billion in revenue in 2025, rival Hanshow is stepping up a global offensive, winning a strategic account in the U.K. and a new POC for...
27 February 2026
2
Conflicts in the Middle East: what impact on the supply chain and European retail?
With US and Israeli strikes on Iran triggering a major crisis on February 28, 2026, retailers already have to face the closure of strategic trade routes, rising freight costs and import...
3
BNPL: Between healthcare and retail, Scalapay accelerates a P.O.S. offensive with two major signings
Building on a strong foothold in fashion, Scalapay is strengthening in-store penetration targeting players in the healthcare sector. According to our information, the Italian BNPL unicorn has...
25 February 2026
4
Regulatory: With 200,000 Digital Product Passports issued, Darty scales up
While the European Commission is set to vote on delegated acts to specify requirements for home appliances, Darty is accelerating a Digital Product Passport (DPP) push by integrating new products...
11 March 2026
5
Profound raises US$96 million in Series C funding, becoming a first GEO unicorn
Founded in 2024 in New York by James Cadwallader, GEO startup Profound raised US$96 million on February 24, 2026, in a Series C round led by Lightspeed Venture Partners, including Sequoia Capital...
25 February 2026
6
Aroma-Zone and Najar reveal the behind-the-scenes of a strategic partnership
As the adoption of AI results in increasing cost volatility for companies, mind Retail spoke in Monaco with Christelle Glaszer, Manager of Indirect Purchases at Aroma-Zone natural beauty retailer...
13 March 2026