What: Viajes El Corte Inglés and Logitravel have reached an agreement to create a new company in the travel sector.

Why it is important: El Corte Inglés is diversifying its business and extending its operations internationally with this new endeavor.

The new company aspires to become a global benchmark in the travel sector and will cover both vacation and business trips.

As a result of the agreement, a leading company in the sector will be established with a workforce that exceeds 5,000 people, more than 500 points of sale around the world and extensive online coverage.

In addition, it will be a benchmark in certain products, such as Disney or Cruises, and will have a strong presence in Spain, Portugal, France, Germany and Latin America.

The transaction is still subject to the approval of the CNMC.

ECI & Logitravel Press Release (Spanish)

What: The company received 5 'Salute To Excellence' awards at PLMA 2021 in the food category.

Why is it important: These awards dedicated to private labels recognize and value excellence, quality and innovation in consumer products.

These awards were created to recognize the quality and innovation of distribution products in the own brand throughout Europe. This year 2021 have participated 600 products belonging to 62 retailers, which have been evaluated by a group of judges at an international level.

El Corte Inglés' awarded for food products - Press release

El Corte Inglés' awarded for food products 

What: The company and the unions are committed to collaborating to strengthen and protect workers who produce products for El Corte Inglés's own brands around the world.

Why is it important: This is the first multisectoral agreement signed by a Spanish company to enforce respect of international human, labour, social and environmental rights in the supply chain.

This agreement stands for a more sustainable industry and is the result of the work debuted in 2012, since both unions are members of the Working Group of Stakeholders of El Corte Inglés. The text aims to work together to guarantee decent working conditions in compliance with the legislation in force in the factories and countries where their products are manufactured.

El Corte Inglés signs a pioneering multisectoral agreement with CCOO and UGT

What:  The Mall Group has launched its e-commerce offer for fresh goods

Why it is important:  Almost all IADS members are now venturing on the online gourmet activity, which is seen as a way to both promote the brand image while competing on a segment which is not as competitive as the everyday grocery one.

Due to the pandemic, Thai customers prefer online options when it comes to shopping, including for groceries and restaurants. This is the reason why The Mall Group has launched on June 25 its own online gourmet offer, proposing a wide array of fresh goods online.

The website has started with a total of 10,000 skus from 12 categories and has the goal of representing 10% of total gourmet sales for the Group within 5 years.

The article does not mention if there will be any omnichannel options involving the existing 17 gourmet stores within The Mall Group network.

Mall Group backs e-shopping

What: Having launched the Higg Index in 2011, the Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC) is an international alliance for sustainable production within the footwear and clothing industry.

Why is it important: Once again, El Corte Inglés reaffirms its commitment to sustainability.

El Corte Inglés has joined the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, an international initiative that is a benchmark in sustainable management within the textile, footwear and clothing industry. This organization, which has more than 250 international companies affiliated, aims to help companies improve practices in their supply chains, as well as measure the environmental and social impact of their brands.

• Related Item: Sustainability series #2: The Higg Index

ndp el corte ingles se adhiere al sistema de gestion sostenible en retail sustai 

What: Philippe Houzé is set to open MAPIC 2021 as the keynote speaker on 30 November 2021.

Why it is important: IADS' Managing Director will interview Philippe Houzé during the opening of the trade show.

Philippe Houzé, CEO of Galeries Lafayette Group is set to open MAPIC 2021 "People & Places: A New Chapter" where he will be interviewed by Selvane Mohandas du Ménil, Managing Director at IADS.

The 2021 theme of "People and Places" and "A New Chapter" recognizes that the whole industry has to encompass human, face-to-face interaction, emotions, new business models, innovation and the increasing role of social media networks and virtual communications, while also providing the best physical experiences locally, in cities and regions.

Register for the event below!

Register for the event here

Philippe Houzé to open MAPIC 2021 

2021 CONFERENCE YEAR-ROUND PROGRAMME

Discover all the sessions 

What: Sanchez Romero is noted for its broad, varied and unique product and service offering, the type and formats of its stores, and the high quality of its fresh products. It has 419 employees and reported EUR 61 million of revenue and EUR 6.2 million of EBITDA in 2020.

Why is it important: The transaction strengthens El Corte Inglés' footprint as the leader in high-end supermarkets.

Sanchez Romero has 10 supermarkets in Madrid, with over 9,000 sqm of combined sales floor. It also owns a 4,000 sqm distribution hub in Alcalá de Henares (Madrid), where the Company also has its offices and headquarters. The company's current manager, Enric Ezquerra, is staying on.

press release el corte ingles-sanchez romero

What: The plan is underpinned by the development of existing businesses (retail, travel, insurance and financial services) and entry into new businesses (e.g. logistics, mobile telephony, energy supply and security and alarm services).

Why is it important: EBITDA is expected to double to EUR 1.7 billion, debt should be reduced by 60% and online sales are due to reach up to 30% of Group revenue.

During her presentation, Chairwoman Marta Álvarez stressed how "our team, credibility and brand equity pave the way for delivering this ambitious and forward-looking strategic plan".

The Company's CEO, Víctor del Pozo, explained that the Strategic Plan is articulated with the goal of moving "El Corte Inglés away from being a traditional retailer to offering an unparalleled business ecosystem in Spain".

El Corte Inglés' shareholders voted in favour of all of the motions tabled by the Board of Directors, notably approval of the management report, annual financial statements, non-financial statement and earnings appropriation for 2020. They also gave the go-ahead for the 2021-2026 Strategic Plan.

The CEO also detailed the four new businesses recently rolled out: El Corte Inglés Logistics, aa end-to-end logistics operator; Sweno, the mobile telephony operator; Sweno, the energy supplier; and Sicor, a provider of security, alarm and auxiliary services.

El Corte Inglés' Chairwoman talked about the plans to launch a new company loyalty card this autumn in collaboration with Mastercard that will be usable anywhere in the world.

El Corte Inglés strategic plan

What: The focus is put on omnichannel strategy and customer service, especially after-sales.

Why is it important: Irarrázaval spent the first month and a half listening and learning about the company, his goal being to soak up to the Falabella spirit.

The quarantines have limited Francisco Irarrázaval's plan to get to know the 102 department stores that Falabella runs across Chile, Peru and Colombia, but he managed to visit half of the 46 stores in Chile anyway.

With the corporate general manager, Gastón Bottazzini, Irarrázaval already achieved a very strong job in e-commerce, last mile delivery and physical-digital ecosystem in general. He also has added new talents to the team, such as Alejandro Romero, from Amazon.

Bringing more differentiation into the product offer and own brands is also an important target to generate a differentiated offer for falabella.com and support the launch of the new e-commerce channel.

Customer service has already been improved with new systems in distribution centres, incorporating external logistics providers and dark stores. Stores are also acting as gray stores serving both as regular stores and delivery dispatch centres to support the last mile operation.

But the company is more than its stores: its Sodimac and CMR/Banco Falabella divisions are today the most relevant ones. The company intends to have a single marketplace gathering Falabella, Sodimac, Tottus, Linio and external sellers offers. This will unify the shopping, paying and financing experience.

The first hundred days of Francisco Irarrázaval in Falabella

What: The Falabella app attracted 3.1 million new users in Chile, Peru and Colombia in 2020.

Why is it important: The omnichannel strategy brought great success to the company.

The website recorded 985 million visits. 4.7 million customers browsing more than 500,000 products. 23% of the online sale was delivered by click & collect.

Falabella record online statistics

What: SM ordered over 500,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines for its employees and for donation to the government.

Why is it important: The vaccination program is a joint effort of all the SM companies that include SM Investments, SM Prime Holdings, SM Retail and portfolio companies, BDO Unibank, Inc. and China Banking Corporation.

With the arrival of some of these vaccines last 25 June, SM immediately rolled out free vaccination for thousands of its employees to complement efforts where two-thirds of its employees have already been vaccinated. In addition, over 800,000 people have been vaccinated in 61 malls around the country that were used as vaccination hubs.

SM's vaccination initiatives in support of national recovery

The Financial Times considers the future of department stores and in particular the future of department store buildings. There has been a plethora of obituaries of the format in recent years, which has reached a peak as the COVID-19 pandemic was sometimes seen as the last nail in the coffin. However, many are thriving and beginning to pick up after remarkable adaptations to restrictions on their activities. In some cases, the buildings themselves are being revisited and transformed, such as the 70,000 sqm Samaritaine in Paris, due to reopen this month after 15 years, as a retail, hotel and residential complex. The design and architecture is key if the purpose of the store is no longer uniquely the merchandise it offers which is now almost ubiquitous online, but includes also the presentation, and the experience of the store visit, as it was in the original department stores. The article mentions Selfridges, of course, but also some of the more adventurous projects including SKP-S in Beijing, offering sci-fi fantasy among other things. Stores like this are no longer imitating Western models but are truly leading future thinking in retail. Another trend has been the smaller size local stores which capitalise on engagement from local communities.

SKP and others are the future 

What does the future hold for department stores 

What: Alejandro Romero Elías joins Falabella Retail's team.

Why is it important: he will have to develop and implement technological solutions focused on the creation of a memorable customer experience in the 102 stores in Chile, Peru and Colombia.

Before joining Amazon, Alejandro Romero Elías previously served as Ripley's Systems Manager and e-commerce Development Manager at Sodimac.

Falabella Retail CEO, Francisco Irarrázaval, said that "we are committed to deepen our omnichannel strategy, based on offering a differentiating shopping experience, focused on service and product."

Falabella opens new management and recruits a former Amazon

What: The retailer announces the launch of its "LGBT+ y Aliad@s" community to commemorate LGBT+ Pride Month, and to be launched at Falabella Financiero Chile, Peru and Colombia. Sodimac Chile and Peru, and Falabella Retail Peru and Chile.

Why is it important: Falabella's diversity and inclusion policies includes providing equal benefits for all employees, giving educational talks on unconscious bias, implementing a gender transition protocol and appointing a sponsor for gender issues, sexual diversity and people with disabilities.

A workshop that aims to train 3,000 employees will be held end of June, and a training program for 180 leaders is being promoted within 45 Falabella Retail, Sodimac, Banco Falabella and Tottus stores, in order to transform the company's culture to become more inclusive and embrace diversity.

The company's inclusion and diversity policy also includes a complementary insurance policy that covers gender transition, including psychological support, hormone treatment and surgery; an integrity channel to submit appropriate complaints; a gender transition protocol; and promises the same marriage benefits to its employees with a civil union partner.

Falabella has been a member of Pride Connection Chile since 2019 (a network promoting inclusive working and linking 80 Chilean companies to attract LGBT+ talents). The company scored B+ in 2020.

Falabella makes progress with its diversity and inclusion policy

What: Stuttgart flagship store will be the first to offer the digital receipt, and it will be available in all locations by the end of June.

Why is it important: Breuninger actively contributes to a more sustainable future through this paper-free initiative.

The receipt is available directly in the Breuninger App. If all customers switch to the digital version, this could save paper in a total length equivalent to the route from Stuttgart to Madrid every year.

Breuninger introduces digital receipts

What: Fnac Darty and Manor sign a partnership agreement for the deployment of Fnac shop-in-shops in 27 Manor stores in Switzerland.

Why it is important: After success of the initial 4 shop-in-shop concepts announced back in September 2020, the entities will expand the partnership.

The new Fnac shop-in-shops within Manor, operating as concessions with a surface area of up to 1,000 m², will provide access to a customer experience and an unrivaled range of products. These new spaces will offer a wide selection of products and services, with associated customer advice, in the fields of books, music, cinema, multimedia, video games, telephony, photography, small household appliances. and accessories.

In addition to the 4 already existing shop-in-shops, the opening of Fnac spaces in 10 other Manor department stores in French-speaking Switzerland by the end of 2021, and in 13 other Manor department stores in German-speaking Switzerland and Ticino in 2022, will significantly strengthen the presence of the Fnac brand in Switzerland. In addition, during 2022, Fnac will be represented in the manor.ch online store, with several thousand items for sale on the newly created Marketplace.

Manor FNAC press release

What: El Corte Inglés shows once again its commitment to sustainability with four environmental and Circular Economy projects.

Why it is important: All these actions are part of El Corte Inglés's commitment to bond with society and the environment, as well as the spirit of closeness that it maintains with the concerns of citizens.

Zero Waste: The waste management system certified by AENOR will be implemented in all company's centres and logistics platforms (as of today, 51 in Spain and 4 in Portugal).

Towards Zero Emissions: The company has set out to offset the carbon emissions it produces, with the aim of reaching zero emissions by 2050. 100% of the energy consumed by the company has a certified renewable origin.

Electric Mobility of Customers: To reduce the carbon footprint of its customers, the company has implemented more than 300 electric vehicle charging points in its car parks, becoming the largest private parking in this category.

Sustainable Packaging: 100% of the plastic bags in the supermarkets of El Corte Inglés are made of recycled raw material and are also reusable. The company aims to reduce its plastic footprint by 30% by 2025.

In addition, El Corte Inglés has joined the New Plastic Economy initiative of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, which aims to promote sustainable plastics.

El Corte Inglés reinforces its commitment to sustainability 

Thierry Guibert, CEO of Swiss group Maus Frères, has a new right-hand man. Alexandre Nodale, 43, was the CEO of French furniture retailer Conforama from 2015 to 2019 and, between 2012 and 2015, he acted as the deputy CEO of Thierry Guibert, then in overall charge of Conforama. Previously, Nodale had worked in the finance department of Kering, between 2000 and 2009.

In January 2020, Nodale joined Maus Frères, where he managed the business of the group's Swiss department store chains, Manor and Jumbo.

On May 21, he was appointed deputy CEO of Maus Frères. As part of the group's senior management reshuffle, he has also taken on the role of president of MF Brands Group International (at the head of Lacoste, Gant, Aigle, Tecnifibre and The Kooples), a position formerly occupied by Guibert.

Maus Frères appoints Alexandre Nodale as deputy CEO

What: El Palacio de Hierro will refurbish its key stores in Mexico City's Perisur and Santa Fe quarters as it looks to bolster sales amid the pandemic.

Why it is important: The remodelings will bring new experiences for customers as shoppers return to stores.

Remodelings have already in Santa Fe, and works are being paced to avoid closing the stores. They will include new experiences for customers, including gourmet coffee stations and re-set areas to showcase brands.

El Palacio's in-house design team will borrow neighbourhood elements such as those involving nature and mountain stone in Pedregal's geography surrounding Perisur and office skyscrapers in Santa Fe.

El Palacio de Hierro to Remodel Key Mexico City Stores

What: The store celebrates the 25th anniversary of the brand.

Why is it important: Pokémon appeals to several generations, from X Generation to Gen Z customers and is the most lucrative creative licence before Star Wars and Marvel spin-off products.

From June 8 to July 6, 2021, Galeries Lafayette Champs-Elysées welcomes a Pokémon pop-up store to attract fans of the brand. From the façade to the light tunnel and the atrium, the entire space is a visual immersion into the graphic yellow, black and red universe inspired by the Pokémon brand.

To celebrate Pokémon's 25th anniversary, the store unveils an exclusive clothing and accessory line, "Galeries Lafayette X Pokémon", available for adults and children at Galeries Lafayette Champs-Elysées. Other official items from the Pokémon franchise are available: toys, as well as special collections designed in partnership with Longchamp and Maison Pierre Marcolini.

Pokémon products are becoming collectables, and their fans can be very wealthy: 15 old Pokémon cards recently sold for EUR 300,000.

Pokémon: when collectible cards are snapped up at a high price

Manor has announced Nick Baumann as the new Director of Food at Manor and a member of the Senior Leadership Team. Nick comes with 14 years of experience gained at Migros and Unilever Group.

Nick Baumann announced as new Director of Food at Manor 

What: The retailer is catering to people affected by the Covid crisis.

Why is it important: After participating in the Covid vaccination efforts, The Mall commits in helping the ones in need.

Five thousand food bags were distributed to communities around The Mall Bangkae, Bangkapi, Tha Phra, The Mall Life Store Ngamwongwan and The Mall Korat.

The Mall Group 

What: The Chilean retailer continues to optimize its sustainable strategy and confirms that it will supply 151 facilities in Chile and 93 in Peru with 100% renewable energy.

Why is it important: These contracts will begin during the first half of 2022 and will supply most of the demand at premises operated by Falabella Retail, Sodimac, Tottus, Ikea, Open Plaza and Mall Plaza.

The company highlights that this is one of the most important negotiations of electricity supply contracts within the year 2021 and involves the reduction of around 261,000 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) per year.

It includes an electro-mobility agreement with Enel X in Chile, which involves setting up and operating charging centres for electric vehicles at stores, malls and distribution centres throughout the country. Customers and logistics operators will then be able to charge their vehicles at Falabella group premises.

Falabella premises in Chile and Peru will be supplied with renewable energy 

Falabella raises its sustainable commitment

What : The retailer continues to support healthcare workers by providing ventilators and medical equipment to 5 hospitals.

Why is it important : After participating in the Covid vaccination efforts and helping the ones in need, The Mall continues helping the ones affected by Covid.

The Mall Group