Inside Retail Asia

Shares in Seven & I rose 3 per cent in Tokyo on Friday as the Japanese retailer said it was in talks to buy a stake in Polish convenience store operator Zabka Group. The 7-Eleven owner is considering acquiring Zabka shares held ​by funds, with the investment likely ​to total several hundred billion yen (several billion dollars), Nikkei reported.

Richemont has opened its 2027 financial year with the kind of quarter the rest of the luxury industry has spent two years waiting for. The company reported a 20 per cent jump in sales to 6.33 billion euros for the quarter ended June 30. Its shares climbed more than 7 per cent in Zurich on Wednesday, their best session since April, lifting Hermès, Kering and LVMH by between 2.4 and 2.9 per cent.

Swedish furniture retailer Ikea plans to more than double its investment in India to US$2.2 billion by 2030 as it ramps up expansion. Speaking to PTI, Ikea India CEO Patrik Antoni said they have already exceeded the $1.1 billion commitment made in 2013 after securing approval to operate single-brand retail stores in India. “We see that we will probably double that investment going forward,” he said.

Retailers have never had more ways to reach consumers. Yet, as Mastercard’s Johann Suchon, SVP, consumer acquisition and engagement, Apac, explains, that abundance has created a new challenge: Deciding where to focus investment to generate measurable growth. Speaking with Amie Larter for Inside Retail‘s Retail Untangled podcast, Suchon argues that today’s retail landscape is more fragmented and competitive than ever.

Morgan Lane is not new to the world of fashion and lifestyle retail. Long before she launched her first eponymous lifestyle brand in 2014, Lane began her journey in retail, watching her mother, Jill Stuart, run her own brand. In addition to running Morgan Lane, a luxury sleepwear and lifestyle brand, Lane has decided to launch a more cosy, cotton-forward brand with her latest idea, Cozyland.

Shein’s ambitions for a valuation of up to US$50 billion in its long-awaited Hong Kong IPO are likely to face a tough test from investors, as new fees on e-commerce parcels in Europe weigh on sales growth and profits. The fast-fashion retailer is seeking a valuation of $40 to $50 billion in its upcoming IPO in Hong Kong. That’s a far cry from the $100 billion valuation that media reported it was given in a funding round in 2022, when it first started pursuing a New York listing.

Uber agreed on Thursday to buy Germany’s Delivery Hero at an equity value of US$14.8 billion to create the largest food-delivery group outside China and stave off intensifying competition from US and European rivals. The acquisition advances the US ride-hailing firm’s efforts to build a global food-delivery business that can better compete with Just Eat, owned by Dutch group Prosus, and US rival DoorDash, which has been expanding aggressively.

Uber has agreed to acquire Delivery Hero in a deal that values the company at approximately €13.0 billion (US$14.8 billion), bringing together two of the world’s largest mobility and food delivery platforms. Under the voluntary public takeover offer, Uber will pay Delivery Hero shareholders €41.50 per share in cash. The agreement follows Delivery Hero’s disclosure earlier this week that it was in advanced talks with Uber, following market speculation about a possible acquisition.

Anta brand CEO Xu Yang has stepped down for family reasons, and Anta Sports has named its co-CEO Lai Shixian as interim CEO of the flagship brand. According to a company statement cited by WWD, Xu will remain with Anta Group in a different role, while Lai assumes leadership of the Anta brand with immediate effect. Xu rejoined Anta in early 2023 after serving as GM of Arc’teryx Greater China, bringing extensive experience in brand building and premium retail.

Pinterest has long been viewed as a platform for brand awareness rather than sales. But that perception is causing many marketers to overlook a channel that can deliver competitive advertising costs, incremental reach and, for the right brands, a new audience you won’t find elsewhere. In particular, if your brand sits within the categories of home décor, women’s or men’s fashion, or food and beverage, you’d be smart to include Pinterest in your mix.