Atlanta Journal-Constitution (April 22)
“The coronavirus has pulverized the balance sheets of many restaurants. But anyone with a drive-thru had a potential advantage as Americans shifted their eating habits and seating positions.” Atlanta-based Chick-fil-A is in that enviable position. Though “the vast majority” of the firm’s 2,000 dining rooms were closed due to the pandemic and remain that way, “sales and profits have soared over the last year.”
Tags: Advantage, Balance sheets, Chick-fil-A, Closed, Coronavirus, Dining rooms, Drive-thru, Eating habits, Pandemic, Profits, Pulverized, Restaurants, Sales, U.S.
WARC (December 3)
With the “coronavirus in check,” China’s economy “is showing increasing signs of recovery.” This now extends to alcohol sales. “As social distancing rules and dining out restrictions are eased, brewers and distillers report increased demand, and the Chinese consumer, it seems, has a thirst in particular for premium brands.” The “growing penchant for premium products” is happily in step with the Government, which is promoting them as “a key driver of the country’s economic recovery.”
Tags: Alcohol, Brewers, China, Consumer, Coronavirus, Demand, Dining out, Distillers, Eased, Economy, Recovery, Restrictions, Sales, Social distancing
WARC (May 19)
“India’s largest consumer-facing companies have begun pushing ‘vocal for local’ themes across all advertising and marketing campaigns and last-mile sales pitches.” This could give local brands a boost in the Indian market, which is currently dominated by global brands.
Tags: Advertising, Brands, Consumer-facing, Global brands, India, Marketing, Sales, Vocal for local
Bloomberg (December 9)
Hong Kong is facing the “‘worst ever,” as layoffs and store closures multiply. “More than 5,600 retail jobs could be lost and thousands of stores shut down over the next six months, as pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong continue to disrupt sales during the crucial festive period.”
Tags: Disrupt, Hong Kong, Layoffs, Pro-democracy, Protests, Retail jobs, Sales, Store closures, Worst ever
Time (April 29)
Sales of Burger King’s meatless Impossible Whopper are doing well, with national distribution planned by year end. “Currently, 59 stores around St. Louis carry the meatless Whopper option.” The planned “nationwide introduction of a vegetarian Whopper signals a more mainstream effort to include more meat-free options at national chains.”
Tags: Burger King, Impossible Whopper, Mainstream, Meatless, Sales, St. Louis, Vegetarian
Bloomberg (August 1)
“After earnings carnage at global auto rivals,” Toyota is in the “spotlight.” From Detroit to Seoul, Toyota’s global rivals “fell short of estimates and warned of more pain from the trade war.” In contrast, “the world’s most valuable automaker will likely report modest sales and earnings growth for the most recent quarter.” But going forward the automaker still “faces a fight on every front. Potential U.S. tariffs threaten to cripple demand in its biggest market, rivals continue to pull ahead in China, and at home, the top-selling Prius is suffering a slump in popularity.”
Tags: Auto rivals, Carnage, China, Detroit, Earnings, Estimates, Growth, Prius, Sales, Seoul, Tariffs, Toyota, Trade war, U.S.
CNN (July 2)
“Every US-made car is an import,” which means US automakers could get stung bad by tariffs. According to a measure used by regulators, “the two most ‘American’ cars are both Hondas—the Odyssey minivan and Ridgeline pickup,” each of which boast about 75% of components made in the US or Canada. “The Honda Civic, Acura MDX, Acura TLX and the Mercedes C-class source 70% from the United States and Canada. The highest-ranked car made by a Detroit automaker is the Chevrolet Corvette, which placed seventh” at about 65%. GM has already warned that “tariffs could force the company to cut jobs at US plants due to an expected drop in sales associated with higher prices.”
Retail TouchPoints (January 4)
Despite a strong holiday sales season, “a real department store turnaround will demand a lot of work.” 2018 will represent “a major ‘prove it’ period for department stores. The sector has taken quarterly sales hits for several years, forcing major players to shutter hundreds of stores, but early holiday numbers indicate these retailers have harnessed some positive momentum.”
Tags: Demand, Department stores, Holiday, Momentum, Retailers, Sales, Sales hits, Turnaround
Nikkei Asian Review (July 9)
“Japan’s listed companies saw their aggregate sales surge 20% from fiscal 2000 to 2016, while their net profit soared by nearly 40%. A look at some of the best performers suggests the growth can be chalked up to two key factors: globalization efforts and new business models.”
Tags: Best performers, Business models, Globalization, Growth, Japan, Net profit, Sales, Surge
Barrons (November 10)
“Politics and religion may divide people, but everyone loves a good sale.” On Wednesday, Alibaba Holdings, the e-commerce giant, will start “its sixth annual 11.11 Global Shopping Festival. The 24-hour shopping-palooza, also known as Singles Day, generated $9.3 billion in sales last year, dramatically more than the $2.7 billion sold during America’s Cyber Monday. Analysts predict sales will set a new record this week.”
Tags: 11.11, Alibaba, Cyber Monday, E-commerce, Politics, Religion, Sale, Sales, Singles Day, U.S.
