What: The Chilean fashion retail group Falabella has confirmed that it will close the doors of all its physical establishments in Argentina.

Why is it important: Industry experts approve the move, key in Falabella's omni-channel strategy.

In September 2020, Falabella revealed their intention to sell all operations in Argentina and reported they were searching for a strategic partner.

Last February, Falabella decided to close its stores in Mendoza, Cordoba and San Juan. E-commerce operations will continue.

The market nods to Falabella's departure from Argentina

las causas que derivaron en la salida de Falabella del pais 

Since March 2021, the Philippines has been recording high numbers of new infections, causing the country to be once again under a stricter community quarantine.

In response to this, SM Supermalls begins its multi-mall COVID-19 vaccination program by offering its spaces as vaccination centres to partner LGUs nationwide.

The program prioritizes the inoculation of health workers, front-liners, senior citizens, and indigents.

SM Group provides vaccination centres for Local Government Units nationwide

What: As part of its Ordinary Shareholders' Meeting, the Chilean company confirmed the opening of 21 stores in 2021.

Why is it important: Stores will open in Chile, Peru, Mexico and Uruguay.

Among others, the company plans to open five Tottus supermarkets in Chile and nine in Peru. The company's plans also include opening a DIY store in Chile, three in Mexico and one in Uruguay. Falabella's plans also include the opening of a Falabella flagship store at Parque Arauco shopping centre in Chile in the third quarter of this year. Falabella will also renovate facilities to prepare for the arrival of Ikea in Chile in March and August next year.

Carlos Solari has pointed out that the company is immersed in a strategic plan that focuses on digitisation and technological development. The goal is "to have a unique marketplace that integrates the product offering of Falabella, Sodimac, Tottus, Linio and external vendors." It will also continue to optimise its dispatch system in less than 48 hours.

Falabella pisa el acelerador y anuncia la apertura de 21 nuevas tiendas

Breuninger expands the marketplace offering of its online shop with the high-profile luxury brand Chopard.

The expansion of the online brand portfolio in the luxury segment is the result of the positive development of the marketplace model in the Breuninger online shop.

Breuninger expands its marketplace offer with Chopard

What: The conglomerate has joined the international businesses group focusing on responding to climate change.

Why is it important: SM Investments is the only Filipino company to join the campaign among countries like the USA, Germany, Italy, United Kingdom, Kenya, Switzerland and the Netherlands.

The 50 Sustainability & Climate Leaders platform (including Microsoft, Hilton hospitality or Société Générale French bank) serves as a response from international businesses to demonstrate their desire, leadership and commitment to take effective action in the fight against climate change.

The 50 Climate Leaders is a multi-media campaign that will showcase effective leadership in energy transition, climate finance, carbon pricing, industry transition, nature-based solutions, cities and local action.

Across its businesses, SM Investments focuses its environmental efforts on disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation. It ensures environmental responsibility in its business processes by adopting climate-friendly solutions and instruments to help monitor and mitigate its carbon footprint.

SM Investments joins 50 Sustainability & Climate Leaders

What: The marketing campaign is celebrating fashion renewal.

Why is it important: The campaign features a TV commercial, outdoor ads and a marketing event.

El Palacio de Hierro launched a new image campaign to help shore up sales as the pandemic triggered a 26% decline last year.

Under the slogan "Renewal is in me," the Mexican luxury retailer launched a 60-second TV spot with help from local ad agency Teran TBWA.

El Palacio's newly appointed chief customer officer Werner Hirschi and fashion director Sofia Felix said the new campaign had its genesis from a need to connect with customers eager to find new ways to interact with fashion in a changed world.

Apart from the TV commercial, the campaign will feature outdoor ads and encourage customers to contribute their own versions of what renewal means — with the result set to be displayed in the retailer's flagship store in Mexico City's upscale Polanco quarter in a marketing event on Thursday 22 April.

El Palacio de Hierro launches ad campaign 

What:  Alejandro Baillères has been appointed president of El Palacio de Hierro and Profuturo boards

Why it is important:  Alberto Baillères Gonzalez, president of Grupo Bal which owns El Palacio de Hierro and whom his son replaces, has been appointed honorary president of both boards.

Alejandro Baillères Gual replaces his father, Alberto Baillères Gonzalez, at the presidency of the boards of El Palacio de Hierro (IADS member) and Profuturo, an insurance and pension plans company.

Alberto Baillères Gonzalez has been appointed Honorary President of both boards, and is the president of Grupo Bal, which owns El Palacio de Hierro.

A new president at the El Palacio de Hierro board

What: After successful tests in Lausanne, Basel and Lugano, Manor is now working with "Too Good To Go" in 21 supermarkets across Switzerland.

Why is it important: Too Good To Go connects food stores, restaurants and supermarkets with customers to offer them food to be bought at a discounted price.

In collaboration with the Danish company Too Good To Go, Manor wants to actively tackle the food waste problem. The pilot tests carried out in Basel, Lausanne and Lugano have shown that the application is well received by our customers.

"This responds to a strong need of customers who want to take action against food waste by adapting their own behaviour. The success in three different Manor Food supermarkets convinced us to use the Too Good To Go app in 18 other stores," says Jérôme Gilg, CEO of Manor.

The app now has around 4,000 partner companies and has already saved more than 2.6 million meals since its launch in Switzerland.

Manor expands "Too Good To Go" in 18 more supermarkets

What: The retailer was awarded at Thailand Social Awards 2021.

What is important: The awards aim to highlight the creative use of social media.

The event focuses on social media as part of Thailand's business and economic drive, rewarding the most effective brand in each industry. The Mall has been winning Best Department Store Brand Performance on Social Media prize.

The Mall won "Best Brand Performance on Social Media" award

What: Galeries Lafayette's CEO, along with 50 other personalities, imagined what the news of French paper L'Opinion's No. 3000 would look like on 30 April 2025.‎

‎Why is it important: Houzé bets ‎‎Amazon‎‎ would be sentenced to pay a record EUR 1 billion fine for abusing its dominant position and anti-competitive practices in Europe.‎

‎Beyond this fine, which could no longer be appealed and after years of intense lobbying, all EU countries would now subject Amazon to a 33% tax rate.‎

Nicolas Houzé: «Après cinq ans de procès, une amende record pour Amazon en 2025»

What: Since 2019, the company has compensated for nearly 19 000 tons of CO2.

Why is it important: Falabella is consolidating its position as the only retail company with this certification granted by Icontec in the country.

As reported by the company, this achievement has been achieved through the financing of forestry projects through carbon bonds, a mechanism by which the company has compensated for about 19,000 tons of CO2, since 2019, equivalent to the total carbon emissions of its logistics and commercial operations over the last 3 years.

In addition to advancing the measurement and compensation of its carbon footprint annually, Falabella Colombia has a robust management program that positively impacts the country's environment and ecosystems, structured to meet the standards of the international standard ISO 14001.

In other categories, the company developed its own circular fashion program. It has also certified 11 of its stores under the LEED standard of sustainable construction, which guarantees low water and energy consumption. In parallel, it has also sought to reduce other impacts of its operation through tools such as FSC certification of all its bags and boxes. In logistics, Falabella also dabbed in zero-emission transport through the use of electric fleets for deliveries.

Falabella achieves carbon neutral certification for the third time

What: Breuninger's presented its first digital fashion show, now available to watch on YouTube.

Why is it important: The show was part of the retailer 140th anniversary.

Balmain, Gucci, Valentino, Balenciaga, Acne Studios and Zimmermann as well as Tiffany and Bvlgari are some of the brands that Breuninger showed at the Stuttgart Staatsgalerie on 25 March 2021. The presentation included Spring-Summer 2021 women's and some men's styles as well as the latest trend accessories and shoes.

All styles can be shopped and each viewer was able to interact with Breuninger's fashion experts through a chat.

Breuninger is also celebrating its 140th anniversary this year. In addition to the show, exclusive capsule collections from brands such as Balmain, Dsquared and Etro are available.

Breuninger Digital Fashion Show - YouTube

What: 150 French retailers call for reopening no later than 10 May.

Why is it important: Galeries Lafayette is part of the op-ed asking the government to act now.

Several trade organisations and 150 retailers, franchisees and affiliates sign an op-ed published by French paper Le Parisien. They call on the government to "act now" regardless of store sizes and locations.

"We take our part in the collective effort to fight Covid, but this situation can no longer last. It seriously jeopardizes our businesses and worries our 800 000 employees," says the op-ed.

"After losing more than 20% of sales on average in 2020, we have lost more than 30% of activity since the beginning of the year and each week of closure weakens our business."

This translates into significant cash flow problems, an increasing level of unsold stock, cancellation of investments and it increases the risk of job losses and cuts.

Nicolas Houzé signs an op-ed calling for French stores to reopen

Some IADS members will remember Jose Maria Blanco Alonso, former CEO of Palacio de Hierro and member of the board of the department store group from Mexico. Sadly, his death was announced on 21 April 2021.

Jose Maria Blanco took over general management of the company in 1992 and served for 23 years, retiring in 2015, to be succeeded by our current president, Juan Carlos Escribano. One of his projects was to transform the Polanco store in Mexico City into a substantial flagship that became known as "the palace of palaces", involving an investment of some $ 300 m.

Mr Blanco was an active member of the IADS (seen above at a CEO dinner.) Palacio joined IADS in 2000 under his leadership and he welcomed the IADS CEOs to Mexico in 2007. He also attended IADS meetings in cities around the world.

What: PayMaya expands its widest network of cashless touchpoints nationwide with The SM Store

Why is it important: These new Add Money channels are the latest addition to PayMaya's network of over 200 000 touchpoints nationwide – the widest in the country to date – where customers can add, transact, and send money for their day-to-day needs.

PayMaya is making it even more convenient for Filipinos to make the cashless shift as it expands its Add Money partnership with The SM Store, allowing PayMaya customers to easily transact and add funds to their accounts at close to 600 additional top-up locations nationwide.

PayMaya users can now add money to their PayMaya account at the Mall Information Booth, Servicio, and bills payment counters located in SM Supermarket, SM Savemore, SM Hypermarket, and Waltermart touchpoints across the country.

TipsPayMaya expands its widest network of cashless touchpoints nationwide with The SM Store (...)

What: Maus Frères wants to focus on Manor department stores as well as on its brand portfolio.

Why is it important: The sale will enable Maus Frères to strengthen its financial capabilities in order to meet "possible opportunities for acquisitions of additional high-end brands".

The 40 Jumbo DIY stores will complement Coop network, already running more than 80 outlets. This sale corresponds to Maus Frères' strategy of refocusing on Manor department stores and "high-end" brands.

The transaction will be subject to approval by the anti-trust regulation. Employees will be taken over by Coop, according to Coop's statement.

It was "very important" to find a new "solid" employer with "a long-term vision" for Jumbo employees, according to Maus Frères board chairman Didier Maus. This sale corresponds to the "strategy of the holding company" to refocus on its core business, i.e. the Manor department store chain and the "high-end" and "world-renowned" brands, grouped under the name MF Brands Group. These are Lacoste, Gant, Eagle, The Kooples and Tecnifibre.

Maus Frères, owner of Manor, sells Jumbo DIY chain to Coop

What: By acquiring a minority stake in the Peruvian company, Falabella will support the expansion of delivery company Chazki.

Why is it important: Through a newly created fund supporting start-up companies, the retailer will contribute to the entrepreneurship in the region.

Both companies are working together in Peru since 2019 and in Chile since 2020. "Falabella wants to deepen relationships with technology start-up companies to accelerate the development of its services", the company said.

The Peruvian start-up currently operates in 25 cities in Peru, Argentina, Mexico and Chile.

Falabella invests in "last mile" delivery key business

What: The Spanish retailer dedicates a hotline for customers with disabilities and joins WWF's initiative to protect the environment.

Why is it important: These initiatives are raising awareness among employees, customers and society at large.

Hotline for customers with disabilities

The hotline opens from Monday through Sunday, from 9:00 a.m. to 10 p.m. It will be staffed by 68 professionals experienced in customer service and trained specifically to provide the best service to customers with disabilities.

WWF's initiative

The retailer joins WWF's initiative to protect the environment, and for the twelfth consecutive year has turned off the lights of its most emblematic facades, between 20:30 and 21:30 on 27 March. This action is part of the agreement that El Corte Inglés signed in 2018 with WWF to launch a sustainable actions program.

This type of actions is part of El Corte Inglés commitment to participate in social, cultural, educational and sports activities.

Hotline for customers with disabilities

WWFs initiative

What: the Spanish retailer proposes voluntary redundancies

Why is it important: online sales thrived, leading to over-staffing

Personnel cuts in Spain would take the form of 3 000 voluntary redundancies.

The retailer aims to improve "the company's financial viability, its positioning within a changing market, and to keep pace with the retail sector's restructuring and its new scope, following the rise in online shopping."

El Corte Inglés is one of the country's leading private employers, with a staff of 63 000 in its retail division alone.

El Corte Inglés to reorganise the company

What: 10 out of 11 locations reopen on 8 March

Why is it important: only shopping by appointment is allowed so far

Breuninger department stores reopened their doors for shopping by appointment on Monday 8 March. Stuttgart, Düsseldorf, Nuremberg, Leipzig, Freiburg, Karlsruhe, Reutlingen, MTZ, Ludwigsburg and Sindelfingen can reopen in strict compliance with safety measures. Sindelfingen is currently reopened without restrictions and can be visited without booking an appointment. All Breuninger Confiserien will reopen from 11 March 2021.

CEO Holger Blecker on reopening: "over the past few weeks, we have been pushing for a reopening with an effective hygiene concept with a lot of commitment, passion and, above all, well-founded arguments."

Breuninger öffnet erstmals seit Dezember

What: Supaluck Umpujh's interview and reflexions about 2020 – 2021 challenges

Why it is important: The Mall announced the launch of a digital store by the end of March

Supaluck Umpujh, Chairwoman of The Mall and dubbed by Fortune "the iron butterfly", reflects about the challenges caused by the Covid-19 outbreak. Among other measures, the "power of love" campaign allowed to unite both suppliers, local partners and staff, into setting up the appropriate responses to the emergency crisis. It allowed the group to limit losses to -20% last year, a good performance relatively to competition.

She also took this opportunity to announce the launch of The Mall's first ever digital store, to be made available at the end of March 21.

The Mall CEO interview

What: Dr Felix Kreyer will be appointed on 1 May 2021, replacing Dr Sven Bernhardt, who is leaving the company.

Why is it important: Felix Kreyer started his career at McKinsey. He also brings many years of top management experience at Zalando and most recently at Marc O'Polo, where he headed the entire e-commerce business.

In addition to the Digital Business & Multichannel division, the 42-year-old will also be responsible for the rapidly growing online shop breuninger.com as well as the important topic of customer-centricity for Breuninger (CRM and Breuninger Card).

As of May 1, 2021, the Breuninger Management Board will consist of Holger Blecker (Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Management Board), Marcus Weller (Chief Financial Officer), Sandra Hartmann (Chief Merchandising Officer), Benjamin Fuest (Chief Sales Officer), Ulrich Wölfer (Chief Real Estate Officer), Dr Frank Postel (Chief Technology Officer) and now Dr Felix Kreyer (Chief Customer Officer).

Felix Kreyer appointed new CCO

Wechsel in der Breuninger Unternehmensleitung

What: The group plans to allocate THB 1 billion (USD 27 million)

Why is it important: By answering lifestyle changes, the retailer intends to stay competitive.

Two Gourmet Market branches have already been renovated last year: The Mall Ngamwongwan and Siam Paragon. The facelift for 15 remaining stores is expected to be completed by 2024. A part of the investment will also be allocated to new stores.

Under the new concept, Gourmet Market will be transformed into an outdoor style market distinct from competitors and will offer 50 000 references.

The company expects sales for this year to grow by 10% after a slight drop last year because of the pandemic. Sales at Gourmet Market make up one-third of revenue for The Mall Group, accounting for around THB 50 billion (USD 1.364 billion) in 2020.

The Mall to invest in its Gourmet Market branches 

What: Düsseldorf flagship store lights up in red as part of the national initiative 'Life in the Centre' which is intended to draw attention to the challenging situation of the retail trade

Why it is important: since 16 December 2020, all non-essential stores are closed in Germany, including Breuninger department stores. The extensive closure puts pressure on the retailer, who calls out to the government to allow the reopening of stores

The national initiative 'Life in the Centre' gathers many large trading companies and aims at calling on politicians to offer retailers a perspective for opening up and thus not to further endanger thousands of jobs. Various studies have shown that stores are not a source of infection, and that the costly and extensive hygiene measures implemented since last year have proven they provide sufficient security for employees and customers. "We have proven in 2020 that visiting our department stores and complying with hygiene and safety rules at the same time works very well. With the joint commitment as a wake-up call to politics, we hope to be able to be stationary for our customers again soon in addition to our online shop. Pandemic control and open store doors are no contradiction. In addition to health, it is now also important to preserve the inner cities and the jobs," says Breuninger CEO Holger Blecker.

Düsseldorfer Flagship Store leuchtet in Rot