Retail

Former Toll Group executive Paul Ebsworth has been appointed chief operating officer of the Perth-grown auto retailer and logistics firm Automotive Holdings Group.

If all goes to plan, David Jones, Australia's oldest department store, will shift into foreign hands on Monday.

Wesfarmers is facing a $774 million hit to its bottom line from its struggling Target chain and the restructure of its liquor business.

The future of 2,500 jobs at discount retailers Crazy Clarks and Sam's Warehouse is uncertain after their owner fell into receivership.

The share price of Perth industrial parts and services provider Coventry Group has risen 14 per cent following the announcement of a $21 million return to shareholder

Long-time Perth retailer Rick Hart has sold his four-year-old Kitchen Headquarters business to Sydney based Winning Group for an undisclosed sum.

Electronics retailer Dick Smith says its sales have grown in recent months, in stark contrast to several other major retailers who have been hit by falling consumer confidence linked to May's feder

The tough federal budget has exacerbated already difficult market conditions for grocery wholesaler Metcash.

JB Hi-Fi is on track to lift its profit this financial year by about 10 per cent despite winding back its sales expectations.

South African retailer Woolworths has moved closer to seizing control of David Jones after its shareholders approved a $2.2 billion takeover of the department store chain.

Government policy is forcing a shift in thinking for shopping centre developers.

Home loan approval numbers were flat in April, just shy of the 0.2 per cent rise the market had expected, figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics show.

Kresta Holdings’ major shareholder, China-based Aplus, has outlined plans to acquire the Malaga-based company just six months after buying a large interest in the group.

It’s hard to not admire Frank Lowy, either as founder and major shareholder of the Westfield retail property group or for the $6 billion personal fortune he has amassed after arriving in Australia as an impoverished European migrant in 1952.

Westfield Retail Trust (WRT) has warned its shareholders will be worse off if they reject a controversial merger plan with Westfield Group's Australian assets.

Westfield Retail Trust is in court to seek approval to conclude an investor vote on a controversial proposed merger with the Australasian business of Westfield Group.

Retail spending is growing at a sluggish pace not helped by weakening consumer confidence, with the latest figures again coming in below forecasts.

Westfield's $70 billion restructure plan looks doomed with a significant number of investors voting against the move.

The City of Fremantle’s push to revitalise its flagging retail scene is bearing fruit, with the first two recipients of the city’s new business-attraction incentive scheme set to take on long-term leases.

Westfield has enjoyed a rise in retail sales across its global shopping centre chain.

The retail sector appears to be suffering a hangover after strong spending over the Christmas period and is unlikely to bounce back any time soon, according to analysts.

David Jones has lifted its third quarter sales 4.1 per cent, with strong growth in a number of key categories.

Woolworths says it has terminated its relationship with one of its fruit and vegetable suppliers in Western Australia after it was alleged the supplier was linked to money laundering and harbouring illegal overseas workers.

Australia's consumer watchdog is taking Wesfarmers subsidiary Coles to court, accusing the supermarket giant of "unconscionable" conduct towards 200 food and grocery suppliers.

Myer boss Bernie Brookes says the department store giant is prepared for a potential drop off in consumer spending following this year's federal budget.

Shares in Woolworths have dropped 2.5 per per cent after its latest sales results left the market disappointed.

Pharmacies supplier and health and beauty retailer Australian Pharmaceutical Industries has booked a loss of $115 million for the first six months of its fiscal year, after major asset writedowns.

Coles' supermarkets and liquor stores sold $6.73 billion worth of goods during the March quarter, an increase of 3.9 per cent compared to a year earlier.

Supermarket giant Woolworths breached an agreement it had with the competition watchdog over its fuel discount scheme, the Federal Court has found.

Minrex Resources has agreed to a reverse takeover by private firm Skin Elements, a sunscreen and cosmetics company steered by former New Tel head Peter Malone and corporate advisor Luke Martino.

7-Eleven Stores has confirmed that it is expanding into Western Australia, as foreshadowed last month by Business News.

Beverages giant Lion says being dumped as Woolworths' milk supplier in Western Australia for rival Brownes will affect production volumes at its Bentley milk processing plant.