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: Recently unveiled, the new Haussmann flagship's shoe floor has been relocated from basement to fourth floor with extended footage, making it the largest shoe department in Europe.

Why is it important: As discussed during the IADS Merchandising Meeting dedicated to Leather Goods & Shoes on 28 May, shoes are a safe bet for the future thanks to the massive casualisation happening in the market.

Circling around the base of the famous coupole dome, the new shoe floor located on the fourth floor offers new and interested features.

Besides the mid-range, premium and luxury areas, GL brings innovation in the way brands are classified and displayed. Two large lookalike multi-brand stores (embarking new brands) are available to the customers: the 'Designers Galerie' gathering luxury brands such as Alaïa, Balmain or Maison Margiela, and the 'Creative Galerie' gathering "emerging" brands like Ganni, Rejina Pyo or Staud, both spaces being filed with natural light. Thematic sections have also been set up such as a large 'Sneakers Galerie', and a seasonal summer display. The floor also features several groups of fashionably-dressed mannequins reminding of Galerie Lafayette dedication to fashion and trends.

A shoe repair/recycling station run by Veja, a Pierre Hermé macaron shop, a concierge counter and a Djula piercing station are animating the shop floor.

Mixing hardwood and concrete floors, colours are evolving around earth tones and are emphasized with "natural" props and furniture such as terrazzo displays and benches carved in lookalike big grey rocks.

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: 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: 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

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: 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 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: 1,000 vaccinations will be carried out each day from Monday to Friday.

Why is it important: As for The Mall or SM Store, IADS members are supporting vaccination roll outs.

El Corte Inglés Group has begun vaccination against Covid-19 for its employees in Madrid. Among others, the vaccination centre at El Corte Inglés gathers 18 health workers usually working in stores.

El Corte Inglés has begun vaccination against COVID-19 

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: Breuninger offered a beauty masterclass with Charlotte Tilbury.

Why it is important: The masterclass comes as the third digital event hosted this year by Breuninger.

Breuninger hosted a "Beauty Masterclass" with Hollywood brand Charlotte Tilbury Beauty live from Breuninger's Flagship Store in Düsseldorf.

The online event featured make-up artist Isabel Pimentel and influencer Farina Opoku , known to her followers as "novalanalove", as they revealled the best tips and insider makeup tricks. Just like the past digital events hosted by Breuninger, all featured products could be ordered at breuninger.com during the show.

In case you missed it, click the link below to watch a replay.

Beauty Masterclass – Breuninger × Charlotte Tilbury

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 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: 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: 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

The company managed to mitigate the effects of the pandemic thanks to digitalisation and new business development. The company ended financial year 2020 with positive EBITDA of EUR 142 million.

The company's ability to adapt to unfathomable change fuelled growth in the online business, which registered year-on-year growth of 2019. Online sales are now 17.3% of total retail revenue and marked a year-on-year growth of 132%.

The Group reported a EUR 10.43 billion revenue and a net loss before provisions of EUR 445 million in 2020, due to closure of much of its business during the initial lockdown and successive restrictions at the regional level, compounded by the total absence of domestic and international tourism.

The company reports that retail sales are trending in line with expectations, at close to 2019 levels, despite the lingering effects of the pandemic.

El Corte inglés press release 2020 annual results

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 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

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 

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: On the 70th anniversary of its confectionery business, Breuninger donated EUR 3,000 to the Stuttgart Community Foundation.

Why it is important: Breuninger gives back to its community in a creative way to help ease some of the impacts of the pandemic.

To celebrate 70 years of its confectionery business, Breuninger donated EUR 3,000 to the Stuttgart Community Foundation. Instead of writing the donation on a giant cardboard check, they delivered it in the form of a cake.

Breuninger donates to Stuttgart Community Foundation

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 

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