Retail

Two of the longest serving directors of Wesfarmers will step down from the board in November.

Charter Hall Group and hospitality industry super fund Hostplus have acquired 54 pubs and liquor stores from ALH Group, including the Hyde Park Hotel and the Dunsborough Tavern among several from Western Australia, in a sale and lease-back deal worth more than $600 million.

Shares in Kresta Holdings slumped today after its major shareholder, China-based Aplus, announced that it had fallen short of its required 90 per cent threshold for compulsory acquisition.

The operator of Westfield shopping centres in Australia and New Zealand says it would consider selling partial stakes in some of its centres.

Perth's first 7-Eleven convenience store is set to be located in the inner city, with a development application lodged for fit-out and signage at the McNess Royal Arcade in the Hay Street Mall.

Woolworths has lifted its profit 8.5 per cent and is expects a moderate increase for the year ahead.

Window coverings manufacturer and retailer Kresta Holdings has reported a $1.4 million loss for the year ended June 30, down from $1.5 million net profit last year.

The controversial split of shopping centre giant Westfield has been an early winner, delivering shareholders a $4.5 billion gain in less than two months.

Westfield's new Australian spin-off expects continued income growth from its shopping centres as specialty retailers boost their sales.

Struggling clothing maker Pacific Brands is selling its workwear business to Wesfarmers Industrial and Safety, after write-downs and weaker profit margins blew its full-year loss out to $224 million.

Fuel supplier Caltex Australia will cut 10 per cent of its workforce over the next 12 months, axing 350 jobs as part of a company-wide restructure.

It’s been two years since the introduction of Sunday trading in the state and positive survey results from Curtin Business School found almost 60 per cent of Western Australians support the deregulation of retail trading hours.

Cash Converters is expecting a stronger year ahead after new regulations on lending hit its earnings.

Wesfarmers will give an extra $1.1 billion back to shareholders after lifting its full year profit 19 per cent.

A private equity firm is holding onto its stake in Dick Smith Electronics as the retailer expects profit and sales to grow in the year ahead.

Atlas Pearls and Perfumes has announced a collaboration with Australian and French music icon Tina Arena.

Tight equity markets have opened the door to WA companies raising funds in other ways.

Woolworths' home improvement business has hit troubled waters, with the retailer warning of a blowout in losses.

David Jones boss Paul Zahra has quit the department store chain, to be replaced by Country Road head Ian Nairn.

Shares in electronics retailer JB Hi-Fi have plunged in early trade amid disappointment at its latest trading update.

A possible move by Coles and Woolworths into the home loan market could benefit consumers by forcing the big banks to offer cheaper products, a former Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) chief says.

Wesfarmers subsidiary Coles has recruited one of its fiercest critics, former Victorian premier Jeff Kennett, to help sort out disputes with the supermarket giant's suppliers.

New vehicle sales in Western Australia have fallen 8.1 per cent year on year, according to a report from the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries.

Wesfarmers boss Richard Goyder believes US online retailing giant Amazon is the biggest threat to his company.

Businesses confidence has hit its highest level in 11 years, as the services sector and retailers become more optimistic about their sales outlook.

Retail spending is picking up as Australian consumers shake off the federal budget blues.

The former Clarkson Retravision store, which has been earmarked to become a First Choice Liquor outlet, has sold at auction for $5.4 million.

Retail veteran Solomon Lew has accepted a $210 million offer for his stake in Country Road, ending his long standoff with the new owner of David Jones.

The $2.2 billion foreign takeover of David Jones will go ahead, after the Federal Court approved the sale of Australia's oldest department store to South Africa's Woolworths.

Consumer confidence has bounced back to levels not seen since before the federal government's tough budget was released in May.

Supermarket giant Coles is taking on the big four banks by offering customers the ability to pick up loans and other personal finance products at the same time as their groceries.

More than 176 years after its first store opened in Sydney, David Jones is passing into foreign hands after shareholders overwhelmingly backed a $2.2 billion takeover.