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Amazon's net sales increased by 9% year-on-year to US$137.4bn and net income increased 98% to $14.3bn for Q4 (ending 31 st  December). Amazon Web Services covering higher costs Amazon’s total operating income for the quarter was $3.5bn (50)%. Amazon is facing into higher costs. Amazon’s fulfilment costs in Q4 increased 21% YoY to US $22.4bn. It’s also spending more on marketing, with costs ...

Four reasons why businesses struggle with insight Businesses have access to more data than ever before, arguably to an overwhelming extent. We all want to understand more about our customers so that we can effectively engage with them, and data has the potential to unlock this insight. But insight can’t be achieved just with data alone – it is only the first step in the journey. Forming a s...

As Carrefour establishes a joint venture for its push into social commerce and acquires a plot in virtual gaming environment The Sandbox, we look at the developments and consider what the initiatives mean for the retailer. Carrefour establishes joint venture for social commerce push Carrefour has established a joint venture with Brut., which will be majority owned by Brut., that will lead t...

Alibaba is considering raising funds for its grocery chain Freshippo that could see the creation of a seperate business. New investment to accelerate its push into grocery retail In an article by Bloomberg earlier this month, it says that Alibaba is pulling together a list of strategic investors to raise funds that would accelerate the development its Freshippo business. Although Alibaba wi...

In the live broadcast of Ocado Re:Imagined, Ocado unveiled seven new innovations that will underpin its Ocado Smart Platform (OSP). “Game-changing” technology Ocado needs to improve its product to retain and attract new partners. New deals will enable Ocado to increase investment and improve the proposition, creating a virtuous cycle. Since its launch, Ocado has 10 sites live across the glo...

As the newly merged Plus and Coop discuss their combined performance in 2021, we look at 2021 results from Vomar and Jan Linders and report on Picnic’s growth in 2020. Plus and Coop report flat combined performance for 2021 As part of the merger announcement, Plus and Coop reported their combined performance for 2021. The retailers said together they generated sales of €4.7 bn, a rise of 0....

Amazon Style will launch later this year with in-store technology enhancing and personalising the shopping experience. Advanced technology in-store Amazon’s first physical clothing store, Amazon Style, is set to open in Los Angeles later this year. According to Amazon, it will offer a “ seamless and elevated shopping experience” . The store will feature items from brands customers “know an...

Quick commerce has emerged as a new route to market, adding a new channel of operations for retailer and suppliers and is providing new opportunities to engage and sell to shoppers This new channel we estimate is already worth in excess of £1.4bn. Our research has shown that one in three consumers are already using it or are intending to use it in the near future, and that it’s likely to conti...

Meituan, China's largest platform for lifestyle services and products, has added Starbuck onto its platform. Starbucks extends reach to more consumers The partnership with Meituan will allow Chinese customers to order cofee delivery and make reservations on the mobile app. It will also launch a service to let Meituan users make private bookings to taste and learn to make coffees at Starbuck...

As the leading on-demand delivery service, or quick commerce provider, in North America develops a new ready meals hub, we look at why Instacart is aiming to tap into different delivery segments. Changing competitive landscape Instacart is the most established on-demand delivery service in the US, with over 700 retail partners, including most of the leading grocers. It initially established...