Swedish fashion chain H&M is on a mission to demand contracts with variable rents, which can go up or down depending on the store's turnover. However, the chain wants to deduct returns in that store, angering real estate owners.

Belgian beer giant AB InBev is trying again to get its Asian subsidiary, the Budweiser Brewing Company, floated on the Hong Kong stock exchange. Two months ago, the first attempt failed due to lack of interest.

Belgian Distriplus (the holding company of drogmetics chains Di and Planet Perfume and subsidiary of the Groupe Jacques Bogart) acquires the seventeen Milady perfume shops in Luxembourg.

Spanish Inditex saw its turnover grow 7 % and its profit by 10 % in the first half of its financial year, despite the challenges on the fashion market. Zara's and Massimo Dutti's parent company too feels the consequences of a decreasing fashion market

Alibaba blows out twenty candles: in 1999, Jack Ma started building his way to the top from his apartment. How did the journey from thirsty teacher to universal stardom go? And as Ma steps down, what is still in store for Alibaba?

British retailers angrily responds to Boris Johnson's promise that there would be no shortage of food after a no deal brexit. They point out that they can not indefinitely stockpile supplies every time a deadline day gets near.

Rumours about a takeover bid by Carrefour for its rival Casino are re-emerging, a deal that would lead to a strong number one in both France and Brazil. Daniel Kretinsky however may still put a stop to it... 

Next year, Primark wants to open 19 more stores - including a first one in Poland. A webshop however is still not on the cards.

Belgian fashion group FNG continues its impressive growth despite a struggling market. The owner of chains like Brantano and Miss Etam saw both turnover and profit go up in the first six months of this year.

Next summer, Dutch e-tailer bol.com will expand to Wallonia with a French-language version of its app. The company is looking for local companies to sell on its platform.

Ahold Delhaize CFO Jeff Carr is set to leave his position in April 2020, when his current term as a board member ends. He will not stand for another term, the company announced.

Ahold Delhaize subsidiary Albert Heijn is testing a new store concept that is quite like Amazon Go, without check-out terminals. The 14 sqm store at its headquarters in Zaandam is filled to the brim with technology.

Danish toy manufacturer Lego keeps on growing, as a deal with Marvel and its superheroes proves very profitable. Chinese expansion is in full swing too and the first Dutch store opens next month, but Indian customers will have to wait a bit longer.

In Valenciennes (in France, near the border with Belgium), Carrefour has opened its first French Supeco store. That is the first of five pilot stores, where the retailer will test a combination of supermarket, discount and cash&carry.

Rumour has it supermarket chain Jumbo will not carry its lowest price guarantee in Belgium when it expands south, even though that is its claim to fame in the Netherlands. The Dutch newcomer wants to avoid a price war with Belgian market leader Colruyt.

The Ikea store in Eindhoven is testing the consequences of not letting people pay in cash any more. If successful, the test may be expanded to other Dutch stores too.

Steinhoff, the South-African owner of chains like Conforama and Poundland, has achieved a decent turnover growth in the first nine months of its financial year. Still, billions of euros worth in damage claims keep the company in trouble.

Canadian chain Hudson’s Bay has decided to close all of its stores in the Netherlands, meaning 1424 people will lose their jobs by the end of the year.

French retailer Auchan has suffered a loss of almost 1.5 billion euros during the first half of 2019, as exiting the Italian market proved very costly. However, the chain sees signs that better times are on the way.

Meal box delivery company Deliveroo has seen its Belgian turnover go up 16 % last year, to 16.8 million euros, and hopes to reach profitability in the next few years.

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French liquor giant Pernod Ricard has had an excellent year, especially in China, and wants to build on that through a major acquisition and a new distillery.

Ikea wants to invest heavily in its Chinese store network. The fact that many Chinese like to visit the stores to take a nap, is alright for the Swedes.

Dutch supermarket chain Albert Heijn wants to simplify its organisation and cuts 150 managers' posts. They are redirected to other jobs in the company, that emphasises it does not want to lay off anyone.

Lithuanian second-hand clothing and accessory platform Vinted has reached 700,000 members in Belgium and now expands to the Netherlands as well.

The price gap between major brands and private labels is growing in Dutch supermarkets. Chains are also increasingly using localised prices, making general comparisons difficult. Online supermarket Picnic seems to be the overall winner of a price comparison by the Consumers' Union.

American fashion chain Forever 21 is moving closer to bankruptcy, as final negotiations with potential investors seem to have ended without an agreement.

Ikea is starting a lease in a shopping centre for the first time, in the Indian city of Mumbai. Even for the Swedes, the 'big box' era seems to end as the focus shifts to getting close to city centre residents.

Kentucky Fried Chicken has started a collaboration with Beyond Meat in order to create plant-based 'chicken nuggets' and 'chicken wings'. Almost all major fast-food chains have now developed a taste for meat substitutions.

British carpet store chain Carpetright has moved 45 million euros worth of debt from banks to its major shareholder Meditor.

As it posts its first quarter results, Belgian frozen vegetables producer Greenyard says it has turned a page and is headed for more profitability in the second half of its broken financial year.